^73.74 


'L  I  B  R.ARY 

OF   THE 

UN  IVLRSITY 
OF    ILLINOIS 

S73.7A 


c_op  . 


ILLINOIS  HISTORICAL  SURVEY 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 
URBANA 


W.  gvngfey, 

(Late  Colonel  of  the  125111  Volunteer  Infantry.) 


BY   ROBERT    M.   ROGERS, 

Late  Second  Sergeant  Co.  B. 


CHAMPAIGN,    ILL. 

GA/KTTK  STEAM  PRINT. 


1882. 


— OF  THOSE — 


cw 


b 


Who  leaving  the  endearments  and  comforts  of 
home,  willingly  came  at  their  country's  call  to  her  service, 
.    and  on  her  altar  yielded  up  their  lives, 
this  book  is  affectionately  dedicated  by  the 

AUTHOK. 


773 ,7// 

/' 

.  ^^ 


INTRODUCTION. 


COMRADES  AND  FRIENDS  : 

In  presenting  to  you  this  record  of  our  military 
life  and  of  the  time  we  passed  in  the  service  of  the  Government,  we 
have  done  it  with  the  hope  that  our  efforts  will  be  appreciated  by  you. 
Our  desire  has  been  to  make  this  a  record,  which  we  can  leave  be- 
hind us  after  we  are  gone,  to  those  who  may  come  after  us.  We 
have  done  our  best  to  make  it  reliable  and  correct.  There  may  be 
mistakes  in  it — undoubtedly  there  are  ;  but  the  general  statements 
are  correct,  we  know,  while  the  incidents  recounted  are  true,  as 
many  of  you  will  aver  after  you  have  read  them.  We  have  had  to 
labor  under  great  difficulties  in  preparing  for  your  inspection  arid 
benefit  these  pages,  and  at  times  have  almost  become  discouraged, 
but  we  persevered,  and  at  last  succeeded  in  getting  them  into  a 
shape  which  we  thought  would  warrant  us  in  placing  them  in  the 
hands  of  the  printer,  and  distributing  them  among  you.  Between 
the  covers  of  the  book  you  will  find  not  only  a  record  of  our 
marches,  battles,  and  bivouacs,  but  also  a  complete  roster  of  the 
Regiment,  showing  what  became  of  every  man  who,  on  the  3rd  day 
of  September,  1862,  was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United 
States  in  the  1251)1  Illinois  ;  whether  he  died  on  the  field  of  battle, 
was  taken  prisoner,  transferred  to  other  organizations,  or  was  mus 
tered  out  with  the  Regiment  at  Chicago,  when  only  343  of  the 
original  one  thousand  who  filled  the  Regiment  when  we  left  home, 
answered  to  their  names.  If  he  is  buried  in  any  Government 
Cemetery,  the  number  of  his  grave  is  given.  Hoping  that  our  en- 
deavors to  make,  for  the  regiment,  a  record  which  shall  be  not  only 

I  I  75728 


IV 


INTRODUCTORY. 


valuable  but  also  entertaining,  and  one  which  shall  meet  with  your 
approbation,  we  place  it  in  your  hands  for  perusal. 

But  be  assured  that  not  one  word  has  been  written  in  these 
pages  with  the  intention  of  wounding  any  one's  feelings  in  the  least. 
Far  from  it !  We  have  too  much  good  feeling  for  those  lads  who 
with  us  marched  through  "Dixie,"  to  do  anything  to  give  them  pain. 

Again,  hoping  you  will  be  pleased  with  our  endeavors  we  remain 

Yours  Truly, 

ROBERT  M.  ROGERS. 


ir 


TABLE   OF    CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

The  organization  of  the  Regiment — Rendezvous  at  Danville — We* 
start  for  Cincinnati,  etc.,  etc. 

CHAPTER  II. 

Arrival  at  Cincinnati — Camp  in  the  corn-stalk  huts  at  Covington, 
Kentucky — Incidents  of  Camp  Life,  etc.,  etc. 

CHAPTER  III. 

First  night  on  picket — Asleep  on  post — Shooting  at  Capt.  Fellows 
by  picket — Receiving  the  mules  necessary  for  transportation — 

Incidents  connected  therewith,  etc.,  etc. 

» 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Down  the  Ohio  to  Louisville,  Kentucky — Arrival  of  Buell's  army — 
Camp  on  river  bank — Removal  to  the  cattle-pen,  etc.,  etc. 

CHAPTER  V. 

Our  lessons  in  soldiering  just  begun — The  Brigade  formed — The  ap- 
pearance of  Louisville  at  this  time — Futile  endeavors  to  get 
discharged  by  some  of  our  warriors,  etc.,  etc. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

We  leave  Louisville  for  the  South — Foraging — Sickness  in  the  regi- 
ment— First  death  in  Co.  B.,  etc.,  etc. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

I  nterview  with  Sheridan — We  reach  Bardstown — Locked  up — Speedy 
release,  etc.,  etc. 


VI  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Battle  of  Perrysville — Incidents  of  the  fight — The  Regiment's 
"  baptism  of  fire" — First  bayonet  charge,  etc.,  etc. 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Reflections  on  the  battle  of  Perrysville — Arrival  at  night  of  the 
supply  train — A  ramble  over  the  battle-field — Scenes  and  inci- 
dents, etc.,  etc. 

CHAPTER  X. 

March  to  Crab  Orchard — Description  of  the  country — Blankets  and 
knapsacks — Missing — How  Doc.  McElroy  lost  his  blanket,  etc. 
etc. 

CHAPTER  XI. 

The  march  to,  and  arrival  at,  Bowling  Green — Relinquishment  of 
BuelPs  command  of  the  army  to  Genl.  Rosecrans — Better 
hopes — First  issue  of  the  army  hat,  etc.,  etc. 

CHAPTER  XII. 

We  reach  Edgefield — Another  interview  with  Sheridan — Sales  of 
coffee,  etc  ,  etc. 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

First  inspection — New  kind  of  ammunition — Our  hopes  not  realized 
— Description  of  condition  of  Nashville  as  left  by  the  rebel 
army,  etc,  etc. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

In  camp  on  the  hills — Cotton  bale  breastworks — Tents  issued  to  us 
— Visitors  from  God's  country — The  theatres — Stores  and  ho- 
tels, etc.,  etc. 

CHAPTER   XV. 

Garrison  duty  at  Nashville — Battle  of  Stone  River — Description  of 
the  battle,  etc.,  etc. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Court  Martial  in  camp — The  culprit's  revenge — Corp.  Duncan's  in- 
terview with  the  captain  at  the  Custom  House,  etc.,  etc. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  VII 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Arrival  of  the  Pay  Master— -Emancipation  Proclamation — We  re- 
ceive our  dog  tents,  etc.,  etc. 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

March  to  Murfreesboro' — Arrive  at  Lavergne — Appearance  of  Mur- 
freesboro' — Granger  orders  some  of  the  boys  to  be  flogged,  but 
is  restrained,  etc.,  etc. 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

March  to  Reed's  Bridge — Run  into  rebel  wagon  train — Almost  trap- 
ped— The  battle  of  Chickamauga,  etc.,  etc. 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Farewell  of  Genl.   Rosecrans — "  Pap  "  Thomas  assumes  command 

f-  r 

— Caldwell's  Ford — Scarcity  of  rations,  etc.,  etc. 
CHAPTER  XXI. 

An  unusual  reveille — Death  of  the  Chaplain — Battle  of  Missionary 
Ridge. 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

Batjle  of  Missionary  Ridge  continued — Defeat  of  the  rebels — 
March  to  Knoxville,  etc.,  etc. 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Assault  on  Kenesaw — Death  of  the  Colonel — Visit  to  the  hospi- 
tal— Scenes  connected  therewith — Incidents  of  personal  bra- 
very, etc.,  etc. 

CHAPTER   XXIV. 

The  cracker-box  fortification — Mining  the  rebel  works — Descrip- 
tion of  Cheatham  and  Hindman,  etc.,  etc. 

CHAPTER   XXV. 

The  move  to  the  right — Marietta  evacuated — The  Union  Army 
masters  north  and  west  of  the  Chattahoochie,  etc.,  etc. 


VIII  TABLE    OF   CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Atlanta — Sherman's  letter  vindicating  his  order — Of  the  removal  of 
citizens,  etc.,  etc. 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Destruction  of  Atlanta — We  start  for  the  sea — Occupation  of  Mil- 
lidgeville — Joy  of  the  contrabands,  etc.,  etc. 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Our  stay  at  Savannah — Appearance  of  the  city — Chuck-a-luck — 
Visit  to  the  Wissahicken,  etc.,  etc. 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

Still  at  Savannah — Oysters  and  fresh  fish — Commencement  of  the 
campaign  through  South  Carolina — Foraging — Destruction  of 
Columbia,  etc.,  etc. 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

Cheraw — The  dash  on  our  cavalry  by  Hampton — Battle  of  Averys- 
boro'  and  Bentonville — Occupation  of  Goldsboro'. 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

Again  on  the  move — News  of  Lee's  surrender — After  Johnson  "  red 
hot " — The  convention  for  his  surrender,  etc.,  etc. 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 

The  news  reaches  us  of  the  death  of  the  President — Feeling  of  the 
army — Basis  of  agreement  for  Johnston's  surrender. 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

The  rejection  by  the  Cabinet  of  the  terms — Johnston  is  notified 
that  Sherman  "  will  move  on  him  in  forty-eight  hours  " — Arrival 
of  General  Grant,  etc ,  etc. 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

The  final  surrender — Arrival  at  Richmond — March  to  Washington 
— Departure  for  Chicago,  etc.,  etc. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  IX 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 

Arrival  at  Chicago — Reception  at  Union  Hall — Speeches  of  T.   B. 
Ryan,  Esq.,  General  Sherman,  and  Colonel  Langley,  etc.,  etc. 

MISCELLANEOUS  SKETCHES. 

Rome.  A  Confederate  Christmas.  Bad  meat.  Public  execu- 
tion at  Nashville.  Drawing  rations.  Blue  Ridge.  Raids  on  the 
suttler.  John  Kirsch  and  Tom  Makemson's  rice  trip.  Mrs.  Dr. 
Mary  Walker.  The  Monkly  fox.  Roast  goose  or  gander.  The 
rescued  negroes.  Our  trip  after  Forrest.  Personal  mention.  Lt. 
Geo.  Scroggs,  Sergt.  S.  C.  Abbott,  Lt.  John  J.  White.  Our  color 
Bearers,  Asbury  D.  Finlay,  Harvey  S.  Tryon,  Sergt.  Wm.  L.  Thralls. 
Resolutions  on  the  Emancipation  Proclamation.  Resolutions  pass- 
ed by  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  State  of  Louisi- 
ana. Order  announcing  suspension  of  hostilities.  Order  for  Grand 
Review  at  Richmond.  General  Sherman's  farewell  order  to  the 
Army.  Regimental  report  of  the  Atlanta  campaign.  Regimental 
report  from  the  fall  of  Atlanta  to  the  fall  of  Savannah.  Regimental 
report  of  Colonel  Langley  from  leaving  Savannah  until  the  battle 
af  Bentonville.  Regimental  report  of  Captain  Cook  during  and 
after  the  battle  of  Bentonville,  to  Goldsboro,  N.  C.  Roster  of  Com- 
missioned Officers.  Roster  of  enlisted  men,  giving  the  fate  of  every 
man,  if  buried  in  soldiers'  cemetery,  the  number  of  his  grave. 
Brigade  reports.  Lee  and  Gordon's  Mills  to  Atlanta,  Atlanta,  Flor- 
ence and  Savannah,  Troublefield  Swamps  or  Bentonville,  N.  C. 


,  CHAPTER  I. 

The  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-Fifth  Regiment,  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States, 
on  the  third  day  of  September,  Eighteen  Hundred  and  Sixty  Two, 
to  serve  for  three  years  or  during  the  war.  The  Regiment  was  made 
up  in  the  counties  of  Champaign  and  Vermilion.  Champaign  fur- 
nishing three  companies  and  Vermilion  seven.  These  companies 
averaged  ninety  men  each;  making  a  total  of  nine  hundred  men, 
rank  and  file.  The  Regiment  came  into  the  field  under  the  call  for 
"  three  hundred  thousand  more,"  to  assist  in  putting  down  what  had 
been  familiarly  called  by  some,  a  "  tempest  in  a  tea  pot."  Four 
years  of  bloody  strife,  and  millions  of  treasure,  proved  that  it  was 
the  most  tumultuous  "  tea  pot  tempest,"  that  ever  was  heard  of  in 
this  or  any  other  land.  The  companies  rendezvoused  at  Danville, 
the  county  seat  of  Vermilion  County,  and  went  into  camp  on  the 
old  "  Fair  Grounds,"  utilizing  the  sheds  and  booths  that  had  been 
put  up  there  for  the  exhibition  of  cattle,  sheep,  etc.  Here  it  was 
that  comparative  order  was  obtained  out  of  chaos.  The  companies 
were  composed  of  men  in  the  prime  of  life,  who  had,  for  the  most 
part,  been  engaged  in  farming,  and  were  used  to  out-door  life  ;  the 
best  material  to  make  soldiers  of  that  could  be  procured  in  any 
land.  The  commander  of  the  Regiment  was  Oscar  F.  Harmon,  a 
young  and  promising  lawyer  of  Danville  ;  the  Lieut.  Colonelcy  was 
filled  by  J.  W.  Langley,  of  Champaign,  who  was  also  a  member  of 
the  bar.  The  Major  was  John  B.  Lee,  of  Vermilion,  a  civil  engineer 
by  profession  ;  while  from  the  busy  marts  of  trade  came  the  Adju- 
tant, Wm.  Mann,  of  Danville.  The  Surgeon  was  John  J.  McElroy, 
of  Vermilion  ;  the  Assistant  Surgeon,  C.  H.  Mills,  of  Champaign ; 
the  Chaplain,  Levi  Sanders,  of  Vermilion,  while  from  Champaign 
came  the  Quartermaster,  A.  M.  Ayres.  The  companies  were  offi- 
cered as  follows  : 

Co.  A.  Capt.  Clark  Ralston;    ist.  Lt.  Jackson  Charles;   2nd.  Lt. 


THE     I25TH    REGIMENT    I.    V.    I.  II 

Harrison  Low  ;    Enlisted  men,  eighty-six. 

Co.  B.  Capt.'Robt  Stewart;  ist.  Lt.  W.  R.  Wilson;  2nd.  Lt.  S. 
D.  Connover  ;  Enlisted  men,  eighty-eight. 

Co.  C.  Capt.  W.  W.  Fellows;  ist.  Lt.  Alexander  Pollock ;  2nd. 
Lt.  Jas.  D.  New  ;  Enlisted  men,  eighty-eight. 

Co.  D.  Capt.  Geo.  W.  Galloway  ;  ist.  Lt.  Jas.  B.  Stevens  ;  2nd. 
Lt.  John  L.  Jones  ;  Enlisted  men,  eighty-six. 

Co.  E.  Capt.  N.  M.  Clark  ,  ist.  Lt.  W.  G.  Isom  ;  2nd.  Lt.  John 
Urquhart ;  Enlisted  men,  eighty-seven. 

Co.  F.  Capt.  F.  B.  Sale  ;  ist.  Lt.  John  B.  Lester;  2nd.  Lt.  Al- 
fred Johnson  ;  Enlisted  men.  ninety-two. 

Co.  G.  Capt.  John  H.  Gass  ;  ist.  Lt.  Eph.  S.  Howell  ;  2nd.  Lt. 
Josiah  Lee  ;  Enlisted  men,  ninety. 

Co.  H.  Capt.  P.  M.  Parks  ;  ist.  Lt.  D.  A.  Brenton  ;  2nd.  Lt.  J. 
C.  Harbor  ;  Enlisted  men,  eighty-six. 

Co.  /  Capt.  Levin  Vinson  ;  ist.  Lt.  John  E.  Vinson ;  2nd.  Lt. 
Stephen  Brothers  ;  Enlisted  men,  ninety-six. 

Co.  A'.  Capt.  Geo.  W.  Cook  ;  ist.  Lt.  Oliver  P.  Hunt ;  2nd.  Lt. 
Josepn  F.  Crosby  ;  Enlisted  men,  one  hundred  and  two. 

Life  in  camp  at  Danville,  was  passed  as  camp  life  usually  is.  The 
regular  routine  of  guard  duty,  drilling,  etc  ,  etc.,  until  one  evening 
at  "  Dress  Parade,"  our  Colonel  informed  us  that  we  would  break 
camp,  and  leave  for  Cincinnati  on  the  following  day,  and  that  the 
number  of  our  Regiment  was  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-Fifth. 
We  had  been  furnished,  while  in  camp,  with  everything  that  was 
necessary  for  a  soldier  in  the  field,  excepting  tents.  The  arms  which 
were  given  us  were  what  were  called  the  "  Austrian  Rifle,"  and  a 
poor  arm  they  were.  Some  of  them  were  not  entirely  drilled  out, 
and  any  quantity  of  them  had  springs  that  would  not  snap  a  cap, 
nor  on  which  a  bayonet  could  be  fastened  without  hammering.  If 
we  were  merely  going  out  for  a  picnic  or  a  procession,  the  Regiment 
was  splendidly  equipped,  but  if  we  were  bound  for  the  front,  it  would 
have  been  a  matter  of  little  difficulty  for  a  small  force  of  the  enemy 
to  have  routed  us,  unless  we  were  given  a  chance  to  use  the  "  butts  " 
of  our  guns,  for  in  that  shape  only  would  they  have  been  reliable. 

At  this  stage  of  the  war,  when  the  private  soldier  received  but  thir- 
teen dollars  per.  month,  it  was  patriotism,  and  not  a  desire  for  wealth, 


12  THE    I25TH    REGIMENT    I.   V.    I. 

that  filled  the  ranks  of  the  Union  Army.  So,  with  fifes  and  drums 
playing  the  old  tune  to  which  so  many  have  marched  to  their  graves, 
"  The  Girl  I  left  behind  me,"  and  with  our  banners  gaily  floating  on 
the  breeze,  we  started  for  the  seat  of  war.  A  train  of  cattle  cars 
was  to  be  our  conveyance,  and  on  them  we  clambered.  The  usual 
scenes,  incident  to  the  departure  of  a  Regiment  from  home,  took 
place :  wives  parting  from  their  husbands,  children  from  their  fath- 
ers and  fathers  from  their  children  ;  all  phases  of  the  human  heart 
were  to  be  seen  there.  The  lingering  clasp  of  the  fond  wife,  the 
last  kiss  of  the  children,  the  hearty  hand  shake  and  a  "  God  speed 
you.  and  bring  you  back  safe  "  of  a  friend  ;  the  men  trying  to  hide 
their  emotions  with  a  forced  smile  or  witty  saying.  But  at  last  "  all 
aboard,"  the  engine  whistled,  the  bell  rang,  and  amid  the  cheers  of 
the  crowd,  away  we  went,  some  to  their  graves.  Oh  !  how  many?  The 
rest  of  us  to  return  at  the  expiration  of  the  war,  for  that  was  the 
term  of  our  enlistment.  Looking  back  from  this  late  day,  the  scenes, 
the  events,  the  recollections  of  that  time,  are  as  bright  and  vivid  in 
the  mind  of  the  writer,  as  if  they  had  transpired  but  yesterday.  I 
know  not  how  it  was  with  other  companies  in  the  Regiment,  but  in 
the  one  to  which  the  writer  belonged,  only  one  man  showed  the 
"  white  feather,"  at  the  last  moment.  He  was  left  laying  on  the  floor 
of  "  Floral  Pavilion  "  in  the  "  Fair  Grounds,"  according  to  his  own 
language,  "  so  sick  he  did  not  know  what  to  do."  He  may  have 
been  so,  or  he  may  not  ;  at  any  rate  there  was  not  much  sympathy 
shown  for  him.  as  we  marched  off  leaving  him  there,  the  sole  inhab- 
itant of  the  place. 

We  have  taken  rides  on  the  cars  which  were  much  more  enjoyable, 
much  more  comfortable,  than  that  night  ride  from  Danville  to  La- 
Fayette.  The  weather  was  pleasant,  however,  and  there  was  a  full 
moon  ;  but  the  cars  had  no  tops,  and  our  eyes  were  filled  with  the 
smoke  and  cinders  from  the  engine.  We  thought  it  the  extreme  of 
hardship,  and  an  insult  to  pack  us  away  like  dumb  brutes,  on  such 
cars ;  but  before  we  again  saw  that  road,  we  had  seen  the  time 
we  would  have  been  only  too  glad  to  have  a  chance  to  ride  that  way. 
But  we  were  young,  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  our  hearts  were  cheered 
with  the  thought  that  we  were  doing  our  duty,  and  so  with  laugh 
and  song  we  whiled  away  the  hours  until  we  arrived  at  Cincinnati. 


CHAPTER  II. 

It  was  on  a  Sabbath  morning,  when  our  train  finally  stopped,  and 
we  were  ordered  to  disembark,  and  fall  into  line.  The  weather  was 
intensely  warm.  Now,  I  want  to  say  right  here,  that  if  ever  I  have 
to  order  a  Regiment  of  men  into  the  field,  in  the  summer  time,  and 
that  Regiment  is  bound  for  a  southern  climate,  I  will  not  think  it 
necessary  to  provide  them  with  overcoats,  like  we  were,  for  we  had 
them  issued  to  us  before  we  left  Danville,  and  thought  we  had  to 
take  them.  So  there  we  stood  in  line,  the  hot  sun  pouring  down  his 
rays  on  our  heads ;  our  eyes  sore  from  cinders  and  the  loss  of  sleep  • 
with  our  accoutrements  upon  us,  and  everybody  as  illnatured,  as 
might  be  expected,  and  no  wonder.  Oh  !  how  slow  the  moments 
went  by,  it  seemtd  to  us  hours,  but  at  last  the  command  rings  out 
"Attention  Battalion,"  "Take  Arms,"  "Right  Dress,"  "Right 
Face,"  "  Forward  march,"  and  away  we  went,  the  band  playing 
and  the  flags  flying,  across  the  Pontoon  Bridge,  over  the  Ohio,  into 
the  city  of  Covington,  and  the  "neutral"  state  of  Kentucky. 
Marching  men,  or  regulating  the  gate  of  a  horse  to  the  step  of  new 
recruits,  was  something  our  worthy  Colonel  was  sadly  ignorant  of? 
and  it  was  not  to  be  wondered  at,  for  it  was  a  new  business  to  him. 
His  horse  walked  too  fast  for  us,  and  the  consequence  was  that 
when  he  arrived  at  our  camp  he  had  but  a  ''corporal's  guard"  fol- 
lowing him.  The  remainder  of  the  Regiment  was  scattered  like 
sheep  along  the  way  we  had  come. 

The  writer  and  his  partner  stopped  at  what  had  once  been  a  "  Beer 
Garden,"  and  on  the  tables  which  had  once  resounded  to  the  clink 
of  glasses,  and  which  were  placed  around  the.  enclosure  in  the  shade 
of  the  trees,  we  deposited  our  weary  bodies,  and  wished  we  were — 
at  home.  Without  intending  to  throw  any  blame  whatever,  on  the 
character  or  motives  of  our  worthy  Colonel,  covering  him  with  the 
excuse  that  he  was  totally  ignorant  of  the  art  of  "marching  men," 
we  must  give  it  as  our  candid  opinion  that  the  march  from  Cincin- 


14  THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 

nati  to  our  camp  on  the  hills  back  of  Covington,  did  an  injury  to 
the  rank  and  file  of  the  Regiment,  from  which  it  never  recovered, 
and  which  was  the  remote  cause  of  death  to  some,  and  to  others  of 
lasting  injury.  Our  camp  was  situated,  truly,  at  a  lofty  elevation. 
We  were  placed  in  the  Corn  Stalk  shelters  which  the  "  Squirrel  Hun- 
ters" had  occupied  when  Bragg  had  threatened  Cincinnati  with  his 
forces,  and  who,  at  the  call  of  the  Governor  of  Ohio,  had  flocked 
to  the  standard  of  the  Union,  with  their  squirrel  rifles,  and  their  shot 
guns,  to  drive  back  the  rebel  hordes,  and  to  maintain  the  old  Flag, 
with  their  life  blood  if  need  be.  They  came  from  the  prairie  and  the 
wood-land,  in  such  numbers  that  the  Governor  was  compelled  to  issue 
another  proclamation,  that  no  more  were  needed.  Into  the  shelters 
which  they  had  made  from  corn  stalks,  gathered  from  the  fields  con- 
tiguous, and  which  were  models  of  skill  and  ingenuity,  showing  that 
the  American,  as  a  man,  is  equal  to  almost  any  emergency,  our  Reg- 
iment was  marched,  and  quarters  allotted  to  each  company.  Oh  ! 
those  terrible  hills,  the  like  we  had  never  seen  before.  We  were 
prairie  men  ;  our  homes  had  been  in  a  level  country,  but  here  it  was 
just  the  reverse,  and  it  seemed  to  us  as  if  we  had  ascended  to  the 
very  heights.  The  Ohio  rolled  beneath  us,  and  from  its  bosom  we 
had  to  procure  the  water  that  was  necessary  for  our  use.  How  many 
lies  were  told  to  get  out  of  the  job  of  carrying  water  up  to  camp,  or 
how  many  oaths  were  uttered  by  those  who  undertook  the  job,  driven 
to  it  by  necessity,  the  writer  cannot  pretend  to  state,  but  it  was  a 
hard  journey,  and  the  consequence  was  that  water  became  to  us,  for 
once,  valuable,  and  many  was  the  raid  that  was  made,  under  cover 
of  the  night,  to  some  fellow's  mess  kettle,  that  had  been  filled  to 
cook  his  breakfast  with  in  the  morning.  But  we  enjoyed  it  all,  after 
we  had  gotten  over  our  march  to  get  there,  and  soon  the  camp  was 
alive  with  fun  and  frolic.  We  had  nothing  much  to  do  but  cook  our 
food,  drill,  and  police  the  camp  grounds,  and  occasionally  go  on 
picket ;  and  so  we  passed  the  days  away,  wondering  where  we  would 
go  to  next,  writing  letters  home  and  doing  all  in  our  power  to  make 
the  time  pass  pleasantly. 

Here  it  was  an  incident  happened  that  was  ludicrous  in  the 
extreme.  It  was  the  custom  of  the  picket  guard,  when  returning  to 
camp  every  morning,  to  discharge  their  guns  by  volley,  under  com- 


THE   125TH  REGIMENT  I.   V.   I.  15 

mand  of  a  commissioned  officer,  at  or  into  the  foot  (,f  the<  hill  on 
which  our  camp  was  situated.  On  this  morning,  to  which  we  have 
reference,  the  pickets  had  been  relieved  and  returned  to  camp,  and 
as  was  their  custom,  had  assembled  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  to  dis- 
charge their  pieces.  At  the  command  of  their  officer  there  was  a 
volley,  and  from  some  cause  or  other  the  bullets  came  whizzing  over 
our  heads,  filling  the  air  with  that  buzzing  sound,  which  is  so  famil- 
iar to  the  old  soldier,  but  which  sounds  like  a  death  knell  to  the  raw 
recruit.  What  a  scattering  to  and  fro  there  was.  when  those  leaden 
missiles  came  whizzing  through  the  air,  what  a  falling  to  the  ground, 
and  hugging  of  mother  earth  was  there  witnessed.  We  thought  the 
"  Johnnies  "  had  come  sure  enough  ;  our  minds  were  instantly  filled 
with  the  accounts  we  had  read  of  "  surprises,"  "  ambuscades,"  and 
the  idea  that  the  enemy  were  right  on  hand,  seemed  to  have  filled  the 
minds  of  many.  That  scene  will  never  be  forgotten  by  those  who 
are  how  living,  and  who  witnessed  it.  It  was  a  terrible  "  give-away" 
on  the  courage  and  soldierly  qualities  of  at  least  one  company  in  the 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-Fifth  Infantry.  But  we  were  indeed 
"  infants  "  in  the  art  of  war.  And  to  have  seen  what  followed  when 
it  was  definitely  ascertained  as  to  where  the  bullets  came  from,  was 
ludicrous  in  the  extreme.  To  see  a  big,  brawny  fellow  who  had  fall- 
en to  the  ground,  to  all  appearances  as  dead  as  a  log,  raise  up  his 
head  and  enquire  of  his  nearest  neighbor,  why  he  was  laying  there  ! 
What  in  thunder  was  the  reason  that,  if  he  felt  like  laying  down, 
every  body  else  must  lay  down,  too  !  !  Get  up  and  leave  me  alone 
now,  or  I'll  hurt  somebody !  !  And  to  see  how  quietly  these  pros- 
trate forms  would  assume  life  and  locomotion,  and  glide  away  into 
their  corn  stalk  huts  ;  and  then  at  night,  after  the  affair  had  cooled 
down  somewhat,  to  listen,  as  we  sat  around  our  camp  fires,  to  each 
one  as  he  described  what  his  sensations  were  at  the  time,  seems  to 
us,  at  this  late  day,  to  be  just  as  comical  as  it  was  then.  But  oh  ! 
how  they  redeemed  themselves,  in  after  days,  from  any  stigma  of 
cowardice  this  may  have  cast  upon  them;  how  they  faced  the  enemy 
and  met  death  as  only  brave  men  can,  the  hearts  of  those  who  sur- 
vived the  fray  in  the  years  that  came  after,  can  bear  witness.  All 
honor  to  them,  our  neighbor  boys,  our  true  and  tried  friends. 


CHAPTER  III. 

But  in  looking  back  over  the  time  we  staid  there  on  those  "ever- 
lasting hills,"  memory  recalls  to  us  one  stormy  night,  when  neither 
moon  nor  star  gave  forth  its  light,  when  the  heavens  were  draped  in 
the  blackest  of  darkness,  when  the  wind  blew  with  the  force  of  a 
hurricane,  and  our  corn  stalk  shelters  were  scattered  far  and  wide  ; 
when  the  elements  seemed  to  have  combined  to  extemporize,  for  us, 
an  entertainment  of  the  grandest  description,  but  which  was  to  be 
enjoyed  vastly  more  by  the  in-dwellers  of  good  substantial  houses, 
than  we  who  had  for  our  only  covering  a  roof  of  corn  stalks.  But 
amid  all  this  dm  and  clash  of  the  elements,  came  the  order  for  an 
additional  force  to  strengthen  the  picket  guard.  It  was  rumored 
about  that  the  rebel  Gen.  John  Morgan  was  in  the  neighborhood 
and  was  going  to  make  a  dash  on  our  lines.  Whether  it  was  the 
fact,  whether  it  was  a  "camp-rumor,"  or  whether  it  was  an  honest 
alarm,  we  never  found  out.  But  there  was  the  order  all  the  same, 
and  it  must  be  complied  with.  The  order  called  for  a  detail  of  three 
men  from  each  company.  The  writer  and  two  comrades  were  the 
ones  who  were  called  on  from  Co.  "B."  Gathering  our  guns  and 
accoutrements  was  but  the  work  of  a  moment,  and  away  we  went  to 
report  at  Regimental  Headquarters.  The  night  was  so  dark  that 
we  could  not  discern  our  file  leader,  and  so  an  attachment  was  made 
to  the  coat  tail  of  the  fellow  in  front.  Down  the  hill  we  went, 
stumbling,  and  falling,  over  rocks  and  clods,  until  we  reached  a  road. 
On  this  we  were  stationed,  three  men  on  a  post,  with  orders  for  one 
of  us  to  keep  awake.  The  three  to  which  the  writer  belonged  were 
stationed  at  the  foot  of  a  large  tree:  the  countersign  given  us  in  a 
whisper ;  the  remainder  of  the  detail  marched  off ;  and  there  we 
were  !  on  picket  !  and  to  our  excited  imagination  the  enemy  in 
countless  numbers  all  around  us.  The  night,  as  we  have  before 
stated,  was  intensely  dark,  but  down  on  this  road,  at  the  foot  of  the 
high  hills  on  which  we  were  stationed,  the  wind  did  not  strike  with 


THE    I25TH   REGIMENT  I.  V.   I.  17 

such  fury,  and  any  unusual  noise  could  be  plainly  heard.  There  we 
stood  at  the  foot  of  that  large  tree,  determined,  as  we  agreed  among 
ourselves,  to  do  our  whole  duty  if  matters  came  to  the  worst.  Sud- 
denly on  the  night  air  came  the  sound  of  a  foot-fall,  near ;  nearer ; 
we  held  a  short  consultation,  it  might  be  an  enemy,  no  doubt  it  was  ; 
well,  we  must  find  out.  "  Halt !"  rang  out  on  the  night  air.  "Who 
comes  there  ?"  back  came  the  answer,  "  A.  Friend."  This  was  an 
assurance  most  acceptable  to  us.  "  Advance,  friend,  and  give  the 
countersign,"  and  up  came  Capt.  Fellows,  of  Co.  "  C,"  who  was  the 
officer  of  the  guard.  A  short  whispered  consultation,  a  reminder 
from  the  Captain  of  how  to  perform  our  duty,  and  he  passed  on 
down  the  road  to  the  next  post.  He  had  been  gone  but  a  little 
while  when  "bang"  went  a  gun,  and  the  bullet  went  whistling  over 
our  heads.  What  did  that  mean  ?  We  cocked  our  rifles  and  stood 
on  the  defensive,  and  it  would  have  been  terrible  trouble  for  any  one 
who  had  come  our  way  just  then.  The  whiz  of  the  bullet  died 
away,  naught  was  heard,  and  we  uncocked  our  guns  and  sat  down, 
but  not  long,  for  again  we  heard  the  foot  fall  on  the  road,  com- 
ing from  the  direction  which  the  Captain  had  taken  when  he  left  us  ; 
nearer  it  approaches,  and  again  the  word  "  Halt !"  rings  out  on  the 
night  air.  Back  comes  the  response,  '•  It's  all  right,  don't  act  the 
fool  as  the  man  did  on  the  post  below."  We  brought  our  guns 
down  and  up  came  the  Captain.  "  What  gun  was  that  Cap  ?"  was 
our  first  enquiry.  "  Why,"  he  replied,  "  the  man  on  post  below  you 
was  laying  on  the  ground,  and  when  he  heard  me  coming,  cried 
'  Halt !'  and  banged  away,  he  came  near  hitting  me  too."  Of  course 
the  usual  amount  of  expletives  were  indulged  in  by  each  of  us, 
making  them  as  strong  as  the  case  seemed  to  require,  and  the  Cap- 
tain passed  on.  The  articles  of  war  declare  that  death  shall  be  the 
penalty  for  that  soldier  who  goes  to  sleep  while  on  post ;  we  knew 
it,  it  had  been  told  to  us,  but  if  John  Morgan,  with  his  command? 
had  driven  in  our  pickets  in  the  early  gray  of  that  morning,  we  are 
strongly  inclined  to  the  opinion,  that  at  a  certain  post  on  that  picket 
line  the  guard  would  have  been  found  sleeping  the  sleep  of  the  in- 
nocent and  just.  Yes,  it  is  a  fact  Morpheus  had  wooed  to  his  em- 
brace, the  entire  three  who  occupied  the  picket  post  at  the  foot  of 
3 


1 8  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 

that  large  tree.  The  reader  who  scans  these  pages  must  please  bear 
in  mind  that  we  were  "  babes"  in  the  art  of  war,  at  this  time ;  we 
had  come  from  our  homes  and  from  our  farms  only  a  few  short 
weeks  before,  and  the  scenes  in  which  we  were  now  playing  a  part 
were  of  the  veriest  newness  to  us.  We  had  entered  into  the  service 
of  our  country  in  good  faith,  we  had  sworn  allegiance  to  our  flag 
under  any  and  all  circumstances,  more  as  a  form  than  anything  else 
as  far  as  our  hearts  were  concerned,  but  we  had  not  as  yet  arrived 
at  that  period  in  a  soldier's  life,  when  he  finds  that  eternal  vigilance 
is  not  only  the  price  of  liberty,  but  of  his  own  life  also.  Morning 
came  at  last  and  with  the  rest  of  our  comrades  we  were  marched 
back  to  camp.  We  came  as  "  conquerors  come,"  we  had  stood 
during  the  night  as  an  invincible  band  against  our  foes.  That  was, 
perhaps,  what  was  thought  of  us  in  camp,  but  we  knew  how  we  had 
stood,  and  were  going  to  keep  it  to  ourselves  most  decidedly,  at  any 
rate  we  were  willing  to  let  "  some  of  you  fellows"  try  it  the  next 
time.  We  had  been  in  camp  now  on  those  "everlasting  hills,"  that 
is,  as  near  as  the  writer  can  explain  his  sentiments  about  them,  for 
several  weeks,  but  it  was  not  for  the  business  merely  of  laying  on 
top  of  them  and  basking  in  the  sun  that  the  Government  had  called 
for  our  assistance,  and  which  we  had  almost  come  to  believe  was 
the  extent  to  which  the  Government  had  invoked  our  aid.  Oh  !  no, 
the  Government  meant  business,  and  so  accordingly  one  afternoon 
we  received  orders  to  "  strike  tents,"  that  is  what  the  bugle  said,  but 
we  had  no  tents  to  strike  ;  true  there  was  a  remnant  of  our  corn- 
stalk homes,  but  the  most  of  them  had  been  scattered  by  the  winds. 
Well,  any  way,  the  bugle  call  was  to  us  the  notice  to  pack  up  and 
fall  into  line.  This  we  did,  and  away  we  marched,  leaving  our  hills, 
our  corn-stalk  castles  and  many  other  remembrances  behind  us. 
Down  the  "  pike"  we  went  to  the  music  of  our  band,  to  the  steam- 
boat landing,  where  we  found  two  steamers  waiting  for  us.  But  we 
have  omitted  one  incident  of  our  soldier  days,  when  in  camp  at 
Covington,  and  if  we  had  not  gotten  down  to  the  boats  we  would 
have  left  it  out,  perhaps,  altogether,  and  if  we  had,  the  historical 
record  of  the  1 251)1  Ills,  would  have  been  very  incomplete,  and  so 
in  order  that  it  may  be  a  true  record,  as  near  as  we  can  make  it,  we 
must  not  omit  this  part  of  it.  We  have  reference  to  the  transporta- 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I.  1 9 

tion  outfit  of  the  Regiment.  Of  course  when  we  arrived  at  our 
camp  at  Covington,  the  only  transportation  there  was,  consisted 
of  each  man  carrying  on  his  back  whatever  earthly  goods  he  was 
the  possessor  of.  We  had  no  animals  of  any  kind,  excepting  the 
horses  of  the  Colonel  and  his  staff,  but  here  at  Covington  we  were 
to  obtain  that  most  useful,  and  at  the  same  time  most  singular  quad- 
ruped, the  mule.  If  I  thought  myself  able  I  would  write  an  eulo- 
guy  on  that  animal,  but  it  is  useless  to  think  of  that,  I  can  not  do 
it;  suffice  it  then  to  say  that  in  our  humble  opinion,  the  mule  with 
all  his  eccentricities,  played  a  most  important  part  in  the  war  of  the 
rebellion.  A  willing  servant ;  too  much  so  we  often  thought,  ready 
at  all  times  to  do  his  part,  whether  in  pulling  in  the  collar,  or  pack- 
ing on  his  back,  strapped  on  so  tight  that  it  was  as  much  as 
he  could  do  to  obtain  his  regular  amount  of  air  necessary  for  breath- 
ing purposes,  an  almost  innumerable  amount  of  blankets,  tin  pans, 
pots,  roosters,  niggers  and  all  the  parapharnalia  of  camp  life,  or  of 
sending  by  a  quick  and  powerful  discharge  of  his  hind  feet  a  war- 
rior to  the  hospital,  or  to  the  happy  hunting  grounds,  the  mule  will 
ever  bear  an  honorable  name  in  the  records  of  the  great  war.  So 
much  for  the  mule,  he  was  honest,  and  we  must  be.  But  to  our 
narrative.  An  order  came,  one  morning,  to  detail  from  each  com- 
pany a  man  to  drive  the  company  team  of  six  mules.  What  visfons 
of  ease  opened  up  to  our  minds.  "What  !  is  that  all  they  want  a 
fellow  to  do,  drive  a  team  ?  I'm  in  for  that,  here  Cap.,  I'll  go,  yes 
so  will  I  and  I  and  I."  Thus  the  strain  rang  out,  until  it  was  much 
to  be  feared  that  the  i25th  were  mule  drivers,  not  only  by  inclina- 
tion, but  by  "  previous  condition  of  servitude."  Well,  at  length  the 
detail  was  complete,  and  two  men  from  each  company,  in  charge  of 
a  commissioned  officer,  proceeded  to  Covington  to  procure  the  num- 
ber of  mules  necessary  for  the  transportation  of  the  Regiment. 
Twenty  men,  in  the  vigor  and  prime  of  life,  refusing  numerous  offers 
of  ten  dollars  apiece  for  their  job,  with  hearts  elate  and  with  buoy- 
ant feelings  trudged  off  down  the  pike  rejoicing  in  their  opportuni- 
ties. The  sequel,  kind  reader !  They  returned,  yes  they  returned 
in  the  evening  the  maddest  set  of  men  that  Covington's  green  hills 
had  seen  for  many  a  day ;  the  maimed,  the  halt,  the  lame,  and  we 
were  going  to  say  the  blind,  but  the  storm  had  not  been  quite  that 


20  THE    I25TH    REGIMENT    I.   V.    I. 

severe.  Every  mule  in  each  team,  with  the  exception  perhaps  of 
one  to  the  team,  were  as  ignorant  of  restraint  as  when  in  blissful 
happiness  it  sucked  its  dam  in  the  old  home  pasture.  The  men 
who  had  been  detailed  for  teamsters  found  the  animals  in  a  "  cor- 
ral," the  Quartermaster  of  the  Post,  with  his  helpers,  in  attendance. 
The  mules  were  as  wild  as  buffaloes  on  their  native  plains,  and  were 
caught  by  the  lasso,  and  dragged  out,  and  turned  over  to  the  man 
who  had  been  detailed  to  drive  and  care  for  them.  When  the  whole 
number  necessary  for  our  use  were  secured  the  receipt  of  our  Regi- 
mental Quartermaster  paid  the  bill.  The  next  question  and  the 
most  intricate  one,  perhaps,  that  had  ever  stirred  the  souls  of  these 
detailed  warriors  was,  what  shall  we  do  with  them  ?  There  was  the 
harness,  there  was  the  Government  wagons,  with  their  broad  tires 
and  a  lock  chain  on  each  side.  The  question  was  solved,  they  must 
be  hitched  to  those  wagons  and  hitched  they  were,  and  up  to  camp 
they  came,  with  every  wagon  wheel  locked  and  two  men  to  each 
mule.  The  word  soon  spread  through  the  camp,  the  teams  are  com- 
ing !  our  teams !  and  we  all  flocked  to  the  road  side  to  see  them. 
We  will  carry  this  thing  no  farther,  but  will  leave  the  reader  to  im- 
agine the  rest.  We  can  see  them,  as  we  pen  these  lines,  as  they  ap- 
peared to  us  the  next  morning,  as  we  stood  by  and  witnessed  the 
harnessing  of  these  Government  mules.  Their  shoulders  were  a 
little  sore  from  pulling  the  heavy  wagons, with  locked  wheels,  up  to 
camp,  and  their  ears  were  chafed  by  the  bridles,  and  the  general 
sensation  was  something  new  to  them  altogether,  and  perhaps  vis- 
ions of  the  old  pasture  lot  at  home,  where  they  had  kicked  up  their 
heels  in  mulish  joy,  flashed  before  their  eyes  ;  at  any  rate,  whatever 
may  have  been  the  cause,  the  hills  of  Covington  never  before,  and 
we  will  venture  the  assertion,  never  will  again  echo  back  the  like 
of  the  noise  that  was  made  there  on  the  morning  when  the  team- 
sters of  the  T25th  Ills,  essayed  to  hitch  up  the  teams,  which  the 
Government  had  furnished  to  transport  us  and  our  belongings  into 
the  land  of  the  Southron  and  the  chivalry.  The  braying  of  the 
mules,  the  curses  of  the  drivers,  the  cracking  of  the  whips,  all  com- 
bined, served  to  make  a  noise  the  like  of  which  had  never  been 
heard  before  in  those  parts. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

The  geography  of  our  country  tells  us,  that  the  Ohio  is  a  broad 
river ;  that,  we  are  willing  to  admit,  and  rather  than  be  thought 
narrow  minded,  we  are  willing  to  say  that  it  is  a  beautiful  river,  but 
when  the  writer,  with  his  heart  filled  with  patriotism,  entrusted  himself 
on  its  bosom,  it  was  blessed  with  a  remarkable  shallowness,  at  any  rate 
our  boats  kept  getting  fast  on  sand  bars,  shoals,  mud  or  something 
else,  so  often,  that  it  would  have  been  no  trouble  for  us  all  to  have 
crawled  off  and  footed  it  down  the  stream,  or  back  home,  but  that 
kind  of  a  boat  ride  would  have  had  its  inconveniences,  and  that  was 
not  what  we  had  come  for,  so  like  '  Cassabianca,'  whom  we  used  to 
read  about  in  our  school  days,  we  clung  to  the  "  burning  deck." 
"  Down  the  river,  down  the  river,  down  the  Ohio,"  we  crawled  along, 
until  night  fall,  when  for  prudence  sake  our  captain  steered  into  the 
bank  and  tied  up  for  the  night.  Can  it  be  possible,  we  think,  while 
sitting  here  penning  these  lines  with  peace  all  around  us,  that  be- 
tween the  cities  of  Cincinnati  and  Louisville  a  steamboat  Captain 
was  afraid,  after  night,  to  take  his  craft  for  fear  of  enemies  ?  Such, 
however,  was  the  case,  and  history  will  bear  record  to  the  genera- 
tions yet  to  come,  that  in  the  nineteenth  century  this  grand  river 
was  navigable  only  in  the  day  time  with  comparative  safety.  But 
we  do  not  want  to  let  our  pen  run  away  with  our  own  private 
thoughts  ;  we  do  not  want  to  let  our  individual  feelings  get  the  up- 
per hand,  we  are  endeavoring  to  write  a  history,  and  we  want  it  to 
be  correct ;  we  want  it  to  be  a  history  that  each  and  every  member 
of  the  1 25th  Ills,  can  leave  behind  him  when  he  "strikes  his  tent" 
for  the  last  time  ;  a  history  that  he  may  leave  to  those  who  come 
after  him,  that  in  the  terrible  war  which  the  Nation  went  through, 
when  fight  against  wrong  prevailed,  that  he  was  a  partaker  in  the 
struggle.  What  better,  handsomer,  nobler  record  can  we  leave  to 
our  posterity  ? 

Our  trip  down  the  river  was  not  prolific  of  any  incident  that  would 


22  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 

be  noticeable  here,  suffice  it  to  say  that  we  awoke  in  the  morning  to 
hear  the  chug !  chug  !  of  the  boat  and  knew  that  we  were  moving, 
and  that  we  had  not  been  interfered  with  during  the  night.  We  ar- 
rived at  Louisville  that  evening  and  disembarked  on  the  river  bank ; 
but  little  did  we  think  as  we  stepped  off  the  boat  that  there,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Ohio,  we  were  to  receive  our  first  lesson  of  what  a  sol- 
dier's life  would  be.  Our  past  experience  we  thought  had  been  ter- 
rible, but  the  corn-stalk  huts  which  we  had  occupied,  and  laughed 
at,  would  have  been  welcome  to  us  now.  The  stones  on  the  river 
bank  made  our  couch,  and  the  canopy  of  heaven  our  covering.  But 
for  fear  that  history  may  not  give  us  our  right  place,  and  to  show 
that  our  hearts  beat  in  unison,  we  will  mention  that  here  it  was  we 
met  the  army  of  General  Buell.  It  arrived  in  Louisville  the 
same  night  that  we  did,  fresh  from  the  battle  fields  of  Corinth  and 
luka,  and  had  come  to  the  relief  of  the  endangered  city.  North- 
ern manhood,  Northern  "  grit,"  was  too  much  for  the  sluggish  blood 
of  Bragg's  army,  and  our  boys  beat  them  in  the  race  and  saved  the 
city  of  Louisville.  Never  can  those  who  witnessed  it,  forget  that 
sight.  Here  they  came,  neighbor  boys,  old  friends,  who  had  left 
home  only  a  few  months  prior  to  us ;  covered  with  the  dust  and  stain 
of  travel,  no  baggage,  no  impediments,  nothing  but  their  trusty  En- 
fields,  and  sixty  rounds  of  ammunition  in  their  cartridge  boxes, 
with  a  blanket  to  each  man  rolled  up  in  a  coil,  and  fastened  around 
him,  this  was  all  they  had,  while  we,  in  our  clean,  blue  clothes,  with 
thoughts  of  our  having  gone  through  with  an  awful  experience,  met 
these  lads.  The  impression  the  writer  received  that  night  as  we 
witnessed  these  boys  come  marching  in,  was  like  the  opinion  that 
was  expressed  by  some  one  in  our  Regiment :  "  Boys,  we  don't 
know  anything  about  soldiering."  Morning  found  us  asleep  on  the 
banks  of  the  Ohio,  with  the  river  rolling  past  us,  down  to  that  coun- 
try which  never  before,  in  the  history  of  the  Nation,  had  been  for- 
bidden ground  to  any  of  her  sons.  But  to  that  land  we  were  bound, 
and  if  we  remained  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio  we  would  never  get 
there,  so  when  the  bugle  sounded  the  call  to  "  fall  in,"  w"e  were 
ready  to  obey  the  signal.  The  morning  opened  bright  and 
cheerful,  but  towards  noon  the  sun  was  overcast  by  clouds,  and  a 
drizzling  rain  set  in  ;  but  it  made  no  difference  to  us  ;  of  course 


THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I.  23 

they  could  not  find  lodgings  for  us  that  night,  but  now  they  had 
awakened  to  a  sense  of  their  duty,  and  we  were  going  to  some  hotel 
to  put  up.  Yes,  certainly  that  was  what  was  the  matter,  and  we 
fell  into  ranks  with  glee.  Our  hotel  was  a  cattle  pen  in  the  suburbs 
of  the  city,  and  into  it  we  marched. 


<^t  S 

61     3 


CHAPTER  V. 

Our  lessons  in  the  life  of  a  soldier  were  just  commencing.  Our 
new  camp  was,  as  we  have  stated,  an  old  cattle  pen  or  corral,  and 
had  at  one  time  been  surrounded  with  a  good  substantial  plank  fence, 
now,  however,  the  only  enclosure  it  had  was  a  camp  guard.  In  this 
place  we  found  three  other  Regiments,  all  new  recruits  like  ourselves. 
The  85th  and  86th  Ills.,  and  the  52nd  Ohio.  With  these  Regiments 
we  were  Brigaded,  and  remained  so  until  the  close  of  the  war,  the 
command  being  given  to  Col.  Dan'l  McCook  of  the  52nd  Ohio, 
who  had  smelt  powder  on  Shiloh's  bloody  field. 

The  rain,  which  had  been  a  continuous  drizzle,  now  assumed 
larger  proportions,  and  came  down  in  regular  and  persistent  style. 
We  had  no  tents,  and  of  course  were  entirely  -without  protection, 
but  the  American  soldier  is  not  a  man  to  long  remain  uncomforta- 
ble, when  it  is  in  his  power  to  prevent  it,  so  from  the  fences  adja- 
cent, in  spite  of  the  guard,  we  procured  some  lumber  and  soon  built 
shelters  from  the  storm.  The  next  day  we  were  moved  to  a  better 
camp,  for  the  rain  had  rendered  the  old  cattle  yard  entirely  unfit  for 
use,  if  it  ever  had  been.  But  Louisville  at  this  time  was  crowded 
with  soldiers,  camp  followers,  and  all  that  goes  to  sustain  the  life, 
and  corrupt  the  morals  of  a  large  army.  The  streets  daily  resound- 
ed to  the  tramp  of  marching  feet,  and  the  hurrying  hither  and  thith- 
er of  General  officers,  members  of  their  staff,  and  mounted  orderlies 
bearing  dispatches  to  the  different  headquarters  through  the  city. 
The  blare  of  the  bugle,  the  braying  of  mules,  the  thundering  of  ar 
tillery  wheels,  from  the  earliest  dawn,  until  far  into  the  night,  were 
reminders  that  the  General  of  the  Army  was  fully  alive  to  his  trust, 
and  was  endeavoring  to  organize  the  forces  under  his  command  into 
a  shape  that  would  render  them  manageable.  As  far  as  duty  was 
concerned,  there  was  not  much  required  of  us,  so  we  passed  the 
time  making  visits  to  old  acquaintances  in  the  25th,  35th,  37th 
and  88th  Ills.  Regiments  which  had  come  up  with  Buell  from  the 


THE    I25TH    REGIMENT    I.   V.    I.  25 

South.  But  at  last  the  order  came  for  moving.  Everything  was 
ready  and  we  were  to  open  up  the  ball  which  ended  at  the  fall  of 
Richmond,  and  the  surrender  of  Joe.  Johnston's  Army  in  North 
Carolina. 

The  weather  was  very  warm,  but  so  far,  no  sickness  of  any  great 
moment  had  appeared  among  us,  but  of  course  there  was  some  to 
answer  the  surgeon's  call,  and  receive  their  allowance  of  the  good 
things  he  had  for  them.  We  do  not  wish  to  cast  any  imputation  on 
the  medical  branch  of  the  army,  far  from  it.  We  are  firm  in  the 
opinion  that  no  army,  either  in  the  fighting  nations  of  Europe,  or  in 
any  other  land,  ever  had  a  medical  corps  that  could  surpass  our  own 
in  skill,  dexterity,  genuine  humanity,  and  a  desire  to  do  their  whole 
duty,  but  it  did  seem  to  us  that  quinine  was  the  sheet  anchor  of 
their  faith,  and  so  it  came  to  be  a  standing  joke,  that  quinine  would 
cure  all  diseases  to  which  our  bodies  might  be  subject.  On  this 
morning,  to  which  memory  carries  us  back,  orders  were  given  that 
reports  of  all  who  were  sick,  or  in  any  way  disabled  from  marching, 
should  be  made  out  and  forwarded  to  Regimental  headquarters, 
in  order  that  they  might  be  sent  to  hospital,  or  if  totally  unfit  for 
soldier  life,  to  be  discharged.  We  are  of  the  opinion  still,  and  was 
at  the  time,  that  many  men  were  mustered  into  the  service  of  the 
government,  when  our  Regiment  was  organized,  who  were  not  fit 
for  the  hardships  and  privations  of  army  life,  especially  for  active 
service  in  the  field,  and  this  was  owing  to  what  seemed  to  us,  the 
careless  examination  made  by  the  mustering  officer.  We  were  never 
examined  by  a  surgeon,  as  to  bodily  capacity.  The  only  examina- 
tion made  was  for  each  man,  as  his  name  was  called,  to  step  out 
three  paces  and  show  his  teeth  to  the  officer.  The  consequence  was 
that  when  orders  came  for  us  to  leave  Louisville,  there  were  a  great 
many  who  had  to  be  discharged,  because  totally  unfit  for  soldier's 
life,  and  many  also  who  had  to  be  sent  to  hospital.  Others  there 
were,  who  would  have  been  perfectly  willing  to  have  returned  home, 
entirely  satisfied  with  soldiering,  if  they  could  only  have  had  the  op- 
portunity. One  case  the  writer  remembers  which  had  a  very  ludicrous 
side  to  it,  and  we  will  insert  it  here.  There  were  two  members  of 
the  Company  to  which  we  belonged,  who  were  both  satisfied  entirely 
4 


26  THE    I25TH    REGIMENT   I.    V.    I. 

with  their  share  of  glory,  and  were  willing  to  resign  their  positions  as 
"  high  privates  "  to  almost  any  one  who  wanted  it.  One  of  these 
however,  would  be  discharged,  owing  to  his  inability  to  march  (this 
was  before  the  day  of  the  invalid  corps)  by  reason  of  a  severe  cut 
he  had  at  one  time  received  in  the  foot  from  an  ax,  the  other  boy 
was  a  fit  subject  for  powder,  but  the  patriotism  which  had  filled  his 
bosom,  when  he  enlisted^  had  died  out.  He  had  gotten  all  the 
glory  he  wanted  and  "  Home — sweet — Home"  was  ringing  in  his 
ears.  However,  a  discharge,  in  his  eyes,  was  something  worth  try- 
ing for  at  least,  so  he  approached  the  fellow  who,  by  reason  of  his 
lameness,  was  to  be  discharged,  and  the  following  colloquy  ensued : 

"  Say,  John,  I  want  to  get  a  discharge,  how  shall  I  manage  it, 
can't  you  help  a  fellow  ?" 

"  Get  discharged  !  Why  that's  easy  enough,  I  can  get  one  for  you." 

"  Can  you?     What'll  you  take  to  get  it?" 

"  What'll  I  take  ?  Why  nothing.  You  go  and  get  a  pass  for  us 
to  go  down  town  and  I'll  go  to  the  medical  director  of  the  Post  and 
soon  fix  you  out  all  right." 

Away  went  Ihe  ex-patriot  and  soon  returned  with  a  pass  and  off 
they  went  to  call  on  the  medical  director.  Going  along  the  street 
says  John  to  his  companion  : 

"  Say,  Ide  !  got  any  money  ?" 

"  Yes,  a  little." 

John  called  a  halt.  "  Well  now,  old  fellow,  I'll  tell  you,  if  I  had 
a  little  whisky  I  could  talk  a  heap  better  to  the  doctor,  you  know, 
but  I  hain't  got  a  cent  of  money  to  buy  any." 

"  Oh,  if  that's  all,"  says  Ide,  thinking  a  discharge  from  the  army 
for  a  drink  of  whiskey  a  good  enough  bargain  for  him,  "  I've  got 
money  enough  to  buy  the  whisky,  where'll  we  get  it  ?" 

"  I  know,  follow  me,"  replied  John,  and  he  led  him  to  a  place 
where  liquor  could  be  obtained  on  the  sly,  for  it  was  against  positive 
orders  for  the  citizens  to  sell  any  thing  of  the  sort  to  a  soldier,  and 
Louisville  was  then  under  martial  law.  Into  this  place  they  went, 
and  John  having  received  the  magic  elixir,  which  was  to  open  his 
mouth,  and  loosen  his  tongue,  was  again  ready  to  accompany  his 
friend  to  the  doctor.  But  it  was  quite  a  distance  from  camp  to  the 
Director's  office,  and  before  it  was  reached  Ide  had  been  obliged  to 


THE  I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I.  27 

replenish  John's  stomach  with  whisky  more  than  once.  But  at  last 
they  arrived  at  the  place. 

"  Now  Ide  you  stay  down  here  until  I  go  up  stairs.  I  won't  be 
gone  long  and  when  I  come  back  I'll  have  your  discharge." 

John  was  feeling  good ;  the  whisky  that  Ide  had  furnished  him 
had  made  his  faith  in  himself  complete,  so  up  the  stairs  he  nimbly 
skipped,  leaving  his  friend  below  on  the  sidewalk.  The  office  door 
was  reached,  and  with  an  invincible  faith  in  himself,  John  opened 
it  and  walked  in.  There  was  the  Medical  Director  of  the  Post  at 
his  desk,  surrounded  by  his  assistants,  while  on  seats  placed  around 
the  room,  were  soldiers  who  had  come  there  for  treatment.  Up  to 
the  desk  steps  John. 

"  Doctor  I  want  to  obtain  a  discharge  for — " 

Looking  up  from  his  desk  in  surprise,  the  Doctor  fixed  his'  eyes 
on  our  friend. 

"  Who  are  you  ?"  was  the  enquiry.  "  Take  the  position  of  a  sol- 
dier sir,"  which  John  did,  wishing  he  was  some  place  else,  for  the 
stern,  military  manner  of  the  doctor  had  somewhat  unnerved  him, 
"  about  face,  forward  march,"  and  out  of  the  office  marched  John. 
The  doctor  never  gave  the  command  to  "  halt,"  and  amid  the  laugh- 
ter of  those  who  witnessed  the  scene,  John  took  his  departure. 
Down  stairs  he  went  to  where  Ide  was  waiting  for  him. 

"  Did  you  get  it  ?"  was  the  first  question. 

"No"  came  the  reply,  "the  doctor  ain't  in,  he  has  gone  out  of 
town."  So  back  they  came  to  camp,  but  John  got  no  more  whisky 
on  the  return  trip,  and  the  next  day  we  left  Louisville.  The  story 
leaked  out  some  way,  as  all  such  stories  do,  and  furnished  many  a 
laugh  for  us.  Ide  failed  in  getting  his  discharge,  but  made  an  ex- 
cellent soldier  afterwards,  and  came  back  safe  and  sound  at  the  close 
of  the  war. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

The  sun  arose  on  the  morning  of  the  Thirtieth  of  September, 
1862,  bright  and  clear,  and  as  he  climbed  into  the  heavens  the  heat 
became  intense.  At  an  early  hour  the  Regiment  was  astir,  for  we 
had  received  marching  orders,  the  army  was  going  to  advance,  and 
so,  long  before  noon  the  bugle  sounded  the  Assembly.  The  line 
was  quickly  formed  and  away  we  went  our  band  playing  its  best 
music.  But  we  had  not  gone  far  until  the  "  Halt !"  was  sounded, 
and  it  was  not  until  late  in  the  day  that  we  got  clear  of  the  streets 
of  Louisville  and  out  into  the  open  country.  It  was  a  hard  day  on 
us,  encumbered  as  we  were  with  so  much  clothing,  for  each  man 
was  provided  with  two  suits  of  underwear,  and  overcoat,  and  noth- 
ing is  more  tiresome  than  the  perpetual  halting,  and  advancing,  halt- 
ing and  advancing,  which  we  were  compelled  to  do  that  day,  owing 
to  the  crowded  and  jammed  condition  of  the  streets,  filled  as  they 
were  with  regiments  of  infantry,  cavalry,  batteries  of  artillery,  bag- 
gage, and  supply  trains,  and  all  and  singular  that  goes  to  make  up 
the  force  of  a  large  army  about  to  take  the  field. 

But  at  last  we  were  clear  of  the  town,  and  marching  on  the  open 
country  road,  leaving,  however,  behind  us,  several  of  our  comrades 
who  had  been  overcome  with  the  heat  of  the  sun  and  the  irksome- 
ness  of  our  movements,  and  had  fallen  in  their  places  in  the  ranks 
and  been  carried  off  to  the  hospital  for  treatment.  We  did  not  go 
far  until  our  track  was  lined  with  clothing,  blankets  and  other  prop- 
erty we  had  thrown  away  as  being  too  cumbersome  and  hard  to  carry. 
We  went  into  camp  in  a  meadow,  and  as  soon  as  the  order  was  given 
to  break  ranks,  many  of  us  flung  ourselves  on  the  ground  and  never 
moved  from  our  position  until  the  bugle  sounded  the  reveille  in  the 
morning. 

Our  soldier  life  had  now  fairly  commenced,  and  we  were  on  the 
march  to  that  country  in  which  many  of  our  comrades  were  to  find 
their  last  resting  places.  When  the  war  commenced,  Kentucky  had 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.   V.   I.  2Q 

declared  neutrality,  but  we  think  our  statement  will  be  borne  out  by 
many,  that  the  neutrality  amounted  to  nothing.  At  any  rate  it  was 
the  opinion  of  us  all,  that  for  a  neutral  state,  Kentucky  held  many 
bushwhackers,  and  guerillas,  who,  from  behind  trees  and  rocks,  mur- 
dered our  boys  whenever  opportunity  offered.  It  was  murder,  not 
warfare.  Kentucky  neutrality  was  rebellion  in  ambush.  But  Ken- 
tucky also  had  loyal  sons,  and  she  gave  to  the  Union  several  regi- 
ments of  brave  men.  Kentucky  had  splendid  roads,  and  as  we  ad- 
vanced further  into  the  country  we  were  charmed  with  the  scenery, 
and  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  terrible  scarcity  of  water,  we  would 
have  got  on  very  well.  Foraging  of  any  kind  was  strictly  forbidden, 
but  the  fruits  of  the  land  found  their  way  into  camp,  all  the  same. 
Honey  was  plenty,  fresh  meat  and  also  vegetables,  and  in  spite  of 
all  orders,  found  their  way  into  camp.  There  was  one  boy  in  our 
company  who  seemed  to  have,  instinctively,  a  knowledge  superior  to 
any  one  else,  as  to  where  all  such  things  could  be  obtained.  Every 
night  he  would  appear  in  camp  ladened  down  with  food  that  had 
never  been  issued  from  our  regimental  commissarat.  He  was  liberal 
hearted,  and  distributed  his  good  things  with  a  lavish  hand.  But  the 
marching  became  terrible  at  last.  The  hot  sun  beating  on  the 
"  pike,"  and  the  air  filled  with  the  heated  dust,  no  water,  excepting 
such  as  could  be  obtained  from  ponds  by  the  road  side,  stagnant, 
and  covered  with  a  green  slime,  and  often  with  hogs  wallowing  in 
it.  The  springs  and  wells  dried  up,  all  combined  to  make  our 
march  irksome,  and  almost  unbearable.  Camp  Diarrhoea  made  its 
appearance  from  which  nearly  all  suffered  more  or  less.  Green  per- 
simmons, white  oak  bark,  and  all  such  simple  astringents  were 
used,  but  many  became  very  weak  and  unable  to  march.  The  am- 
bulances were  full  of  sick  soldiers,  and  so  indeed  were  many  wag- 
ons. Many  poor  fellows  got  discouraged,  thoughts  of  home  and 
loved  ones  filled  their  minds,  and  as  the  long  days  passed  away  and 
they  lay  in  the  ambulances,  their  minds  kept  wandering  back,  and 
nothing  could  arouse  them  to  make  endeavors  to  regain  their  health, 
so  at  last  death  came  to  many  and  relieved  them  of  their  sufferings. 
It  was  at  such  times  as  these,  that  the  boys  showed  their  hearty 
good  will,  that  earnest  endeavor  to  help  those  who  could  not  help 
themselves,  so  charactaristic  of  the  western  man,  and  many  a  trip 


30  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.    I. 

was  made  by  some  kind  hearted  lad  to  houses  far  from  the  line  of 
march,  although  he  knew  he  was  running  the  risk  of  losing  his  own 
life  in  the  attempt,  to  procure  a  canteen  of  good  water  for  a  sick 
comrade,  who  was  slowly  but  surely  loosing  his  hold  on  life.  The 
writer  well  remembers  the  feelings  that  the  first  death  in  his  own 
company  occasioned.  One  of  our  boys  had  grown  so  weak  from 
the  effects  of  the  diarrhoea  that  he  had  been  placed  in  one  of  the 
ambulances.  For  several  days  he  rode  thus,  and  every  night  when 
we  reached  camp  some  one  of  our  number  would  go  to  the  ambu- 
lance train  to  see  if  he  needed  anything,  that  we  could  do  for  him, 
but  one  -night  the  messenger  returned  with  the  sad  news,  that,  when 
the  ambulance  train  went  into  camp,  he  was  found  dead  inside.  Yes, 
poor  fellow,  his  warfare  was  over,  and  as  we  gathered  to  our  camp 
fires  the  news  was  spread  around,  a  pall  of  sorrow  seemed  to  settle 
down  upon  us,  and  Co.  "  B"  went  to  their  blankets  with  saddened 
hearts.  But  sorrow,  like  everything  else,  is  evanescent,  and  before 
the  next  night  rolled  around,  the  company  had  again  assumed  its 
usual  every  day  life  and  jollity,  not  that  the  memory  of  our  lost  com- 
rade had  faded  from  our  minds,  but  on  every  hand  there  was  to  be 
seen  something  new  to  us,  something  to  excite  enquiry,  and  we  were 
finding  now,  every  day,  traces  of  war ;  fences  torn  down  to  enable 
cavalry  to  charge  through,  dead  horses,  and  used  up  wagons  by  the 
road  side,  which  had  been  abandoned  by  the  enemy,  and  destroyed, 
by  cutting  the  spokes  out  of  the  wheels,  so  as  to  be  of  no  use  to  the 
"  invader."  These  sights,  and  many  others,  quickly  dispelled  sor- 
row, and  brought  in  its  place  a  desire  to  meet  the  foe.  We  were  at 
this  time  in  the  division  over  which  General  Phillip  H.  Sheridan  had 
command. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Sheridan's  name  is  one  which  will  be  forever  linked  with  the  his- 
tory of  our  country.  He  was  a  brave  officer,  a  dashing  leader,  but 
we  used  to  think  the  possessor  of  the  most  abominable  temper  that 
ever  man  was  blessed  or  cursed  with,  and  whenever  he  would  ride 
past  with  his  staff,  the  weary  legs  of  the  men  would  straighten  up, 
and  for  a  while  a  new  life  would  seem  to  inspire  us.  Whether  it  was 
that  unknown  power  that  causes  some  men  to  be  more  fitted  for  the 
duties  of  leading  men.  than  others,  or  whether  it  was  a  fear  that  we 
might  receive  a  broadside  of  his  oaths,  we  do  not  know,  but  at  any 
rate,  during  the  short  time  he  would  ride  by,  things  would  assume  a 
more  soldierly  appearance;  a  little  more  order.  We  remember  one 
afternoon,  when  along  with  a  comrade,  we  had  managed  in  some 
way,  to  drift  considerably  to  the  rear.  We  were  plodding  along, 
however,  chatting  together,  until  we  came  to  a  sutler  who  had  open- 
ed up  his  wagon  of  sutler's  goods,  and  was  doing  a  good  business 
with  the  boys  as  they  marched  by.  We  went  up  and  purchased 
some  cheese  and  crackers,  and  placing  them  in  our  hats,  proceeded 
to  a  little  mound  at  the  foot  of  a  large  tree,  to  eat  them.  There  we 
sat  munching  our  crackers  and  cheese,  making  remarks  on  the  pass- 
ers by,  and  occasionally  enjoying  a  bit  of  chaff  with  some  fellow, 
until  we  began  to  wonder  how  many  men  there  could  be  coming, 
for  by  this  time  we  had  been  there  quite  a  while,  and  still  the  stream 
of  humanity  flowed  by.  still  the  same  panorama  of  infantry,  cavalry 
and  artillery,  passed  before  us,  and  we  had  come  to  the  conclusion 
to  stay  there  until  they  all  went  by,  never  once  thinking  of  what  a 
time  we  would  have  to  catch  up  with  our  command.  Just  at  this 
moment,  when  we  had  come  to  the  conclusion  to  see  the  end  of  it, 
up  rode  General  Sheridan  with  his  staff  and  orderlies  pressing  on  to 
the  front.  We  were  a  little  fearful  he  might  see  us,  but  we  thought 
that  in  all  that  multitude  of  humanity  and  life,  we  surely  were  of 
but  small  moment,  and  would  escape  his  eye.  But  we  were  doomed 


32  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 

to  disappointment,  for  suddenly  this  salutation,  short  and  decidedly 
to  the  point,  rang  upon  our  ears:  "You  men  of  the  T25th  Ills., 
what  in  —  are  you  doing  there.  Move  on  ;"  and  filling  the  air  full 
of  the  hottest  oaths  aimed  at  our  defenseless  heads  we  incontinently 
gathered  up  our  hats,  with  the  remnants  of  our  lunch  and  started 
for  our  regiment,  which  by  this  time  was  far  in  advance.  But  as  we 
walked  along,  we  were  thinking  how  it  was  that  Sheridan  knew  we 
were  members  of  the  i25th,  was  it  by  any  peculiarity  in  our  move- 
ments, or  was  it  a  part  of  his  business,  as  general,  to  know  the 
members  of  each  regiment  in  his  division.  Our  appreciation  of  his 
merits  as  a  great  commander  were  rising  rapidly,  and  we  had  come 
to  the  conclusion  that  he  must  have  a  wonderful  memory.  So  on 
we  went  wondering  to  each  other  how  it  was.  Suddenly  my  com- 
panion stopped  short.  "  Bob,"  says  he,  "  I  know  how  it  was  that 
old  Sheridan  knew  us." 

"  How,"  we  asked. 

"  Why,  you  old  fool,  he  read  it  on  our  knapsacks." 

True  enough,  that  was  the  solution  of  the  problem,  for  before 
leaving  Louisville,  the  writer  had  procured  a  bottle  of  white  paint, 
and  a  brush,  and  had  painted  in  large  letters  on  each  fellow's  knap- 
sack, his  name,  company  and  regiment.  This  it  was  that  had  re- 
vealed to  the  general  our  proper  place,  we  had  forgotten  all  about 
it.  We  laughed  heartily  over  the  matter,  and  agreed  to  erase  from 
our  knapsacks  the  tell-tale  letters  as  soon  as  we  arrived  in  camp. 

We  were  by  this  time  getting  well  down  into  Kentucky,  and  every 
day  we  marched  through  villages  and  towns, which,  but  a  few  short 
weeks  before,  had  been  filled  with  sounds  of  life  and  business  activity; 
but  now  everything  was  at  a  stand  still ;  the  store  houses  deserted,  and 
their  doors  swinging  idly  on  their  hinges,  revealing  to  the  passer  by 
naught  but  a  collection  of  empty  shelves  and  bare  counters.  The 
houses,  even,  were,  for  the  most  part,  deserted  of  their  occupants. 
War  with  its  black  and  devastating  influence,  was  abroad  in  the 
land.  It  was  on  a  Sunday  afternoon  that  we  reached  Bardstown,  a 
place  of  considerable  size,  and  as  it  seemed  to  us,  a  place  where 
considerable  business  had  been  carried  on,  but  now  all  was  changed. 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I.  33 

We  had  been  marching  very  slowly  that  day,  halting  every  few 
moments  and  then  advancing.  Just  as  we  entered  Bardstown  the 
bugle  sounded  the  "  halt,"  and  our  line  was  directly  in  front  of  a 
large  brick  house,  the  doors  of  which  were  wide  open,  and  coming 
and  going  through  them  were  many  officers,  from  the  general  down 
to  lieutenant.  We  were  tired  and  travel  worn,  so  we  proposed  to 
our  partner  that  we  would  go  and  see  if  some  good  water  could  be 
had.  Leaving  our  place  in  the  ranks  we  started  for  the  house,  and 
boldly  marched  in.  Our  aim  was  for  the  kitchen,  and  as  we  passed 
down  the  hall  of  the  house  we  could  not  prevent  ourself  from  look- 
ing through  the  doors  of  the  parlors,  as  we  judged  them  to  be,  for 
they  were  wide  open,  and  there  we  saw  the  remains  of  what  had 
been  a  grand  feast.  We  dared  not  enter,  but  passed  on  down  the 
hall,  until  a  slight  obstruction  in  the  shape  of  a  little  second  lieuten- 
ant came  across  our  path,  and  the  demand  from  him  of  what  we 
were  doing  there.  We  replied  we  wanted  water,  but  did  not  stop  to 
listen  to  any  remark  he  might  have  to  make.  Just  as  we  reached 
the  back  door,  a  colored  waiter  boy,  belonging  to  the  house,  came 
tearing  in,  bearing  in  his  hands  a  pitcher  of  water  going  to  the  par- 
lor. We  collared  this  son  of  Ham,  and  demanded  that  he  procure 
for  us  a  canteen  of  whisky,  with  the  promise  that  if  he  did  we  would 
pay  him  for  it.  His  eyes  rolled  up  in  astonishment,  and  perhaps  a 
little  fear,  for  we  were  rather  vigorous  in  our  demand,  and  with  a 
"  Lor  !  bress  you  massa,  dar  hain't  a  drap  of  whisky  in  de  house," 
he  essayed  to  leave  us,  but  we  had  a  good  hold  on  him,  and  were 
going  to  keep  it.  We  knew  he  was  lying  to  us.  for  we  had  caught 
a  whiff  of  his  breath,  which  gave  him  away  entirely,  as  it  was  redo- 
lent of  the  fumes  of  "  bourbon."  He  saw  we  were  in  earnest,  and 
quickly  whispering  "  come  dis  way  sah,"  he  opened  a  door  in  the 
hall  and  bid  us  enter,  and  wait  until  he  returned.  We  entered  what 
was,  to  all  appearances,  a  bed-room,  neatly  fitted  up  with  furniture, 
and  in  one  corner  a  bed  of  h%ige  dimensions,  covered  with  the 
whitest  and  dantiest  of  counterpanes.  It  was  the  first  bed  we  had 
seen  for  weeks,  and  regardless  of  our  dusty  clothes,  and  remember- 
ing only  that  we  were  tired,  and  in  the  enemies  land,  we  flung  our- 
self, knapsack  and  all,  upon  its  broad  and  ample  surface.  There 
5 


34  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 

we  laid,  resting  our  weary  limbs  and  looking  up  at  the  ceiling,  won- 
dering how  much  longer  it  would  be  before  our  sable  friend  would 
appear.  The  moments  kept  slipping  by,  and  at  last,  with  a  tremen- 
dious  effort,  we  raised  ourself  from  the  bed  intending  to  return  to^ 
the  regiment.  We  approached  the  door  and  essayed  to  open  it,  it 
was — locked.  For  a  moment  we  were  non-plussed  ;  had  we  come 
this  far  from  home  to  be  captured  by  a  "  nigger "  in  this  way  ? 
What  a  fool  we  had  been  to  enter  there,  but  directly  other  thoughts 
came  into  our  minds,  and  we  again  threw  ourself  upon  the  bed  with 
the  intention  that,  if  we  were  captured,  we  would  get  all  the  rest  we 
could  out  of  that  bed  before  we  were  marched  off  by  rebel  guards. 
But  imprisonment  was  not  to  be  our  fate  at  that  time,  for  suddenly 
the  door  flew  open,  and  in  came  our  colored  triend,  bearing  in  his 
hand  a  large  pitcher,  which  proved  to  contain,  to  the  very  top  of  it, 
as  good  whisky  as  we  had  ever  drank.  To  empty  the  contents  of 
the  pitcher  into  our  canteen,  was  but  the  work  of  a  moment,  and 
giving  our  friend  a  green-back  dollar,  at  which  he  looked  with  sur- 
prise and  earnestly  enquired  "Is  dis  good  money,  massa  ?"  We  as- 
sured him  that  it  was,  and  hastened  out  to  find  the  regiment.  Luck- 
ily it  had  not  moved  from  where  we  had  left  it,  and  we  fell  into 
place  alongside  of  our  partner,  to  whose  thirsty  lips  my  canteen  was 
soon  applied.  The  bugle  sounded  "  forward,"  and  we  went,  but  as 
a  truthful  chronicler  we  are  bound  to  state  that  under  the  exhilera- 
ting  and  inspiriting  contents  of  my  canteen,  my  partner  soon  became 
hilarious,  and  when  we  reached  camp  I  was  doing  double  duty,  in- 
asmuch as  I  was  carrying  his  gun  and  my  own  also.  It  was  not  the 
length  but  the  breadth  of  the  road  that  troubled  him.  But  no  evil 
consequences  resulted  from  it,  and  as  it  was  winked  at  by  the  offi- 
cers, no  harm  was  done,  and  the  next  morning  found  him  all  right, 
and  ready  for  the  incidents  of  the  day. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  days  passed  by,  and  we,  with  the  blissful  ignorance  of  new 
soldiers,  could  not  see  the  omens  which  filled  the  air,  indicating  that 
the  battle  was  not  far  off ;  omens  which  the  old  soldier  can  so  easily 
interpret,  and  which,  as  we  became  used  to  army  life, were  also  easily 
interpreted  by  us.  But  the  time  was  near  when  we  should  meet  the 
foe,  and  as  we  plodded  along  one  afternoon,  tired  and  almost 
smothered  with  the  dust,  two  staff  officers  came  riding  back  from 
the  direction  of  the  front,  and  as  they  passed  the  writer  caught  the 
words,  "  throwing  up  breastworks  on  Chaplin  Hills."  Still  at  the 
time  they  made  no  impression  on  my  mind,  but  before  that  time  the 
next  day,  I  recalled  them  and  then  understood  what  was  meant. 
The  dust  was  terrible,  and  about  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  a  di- 
vision of  cavalry  came  riding  by  pressing  on  to  the  front.  They 
rode  in  column  of  two's,  and  it  seemed  to  us  that  they  never  would 
get  by.  The  dust  raised  by  their  horses  was  fearful,  and  we  were 
not  in  the  best  of  humor,  so  as  they  rode  along  we  very  foolishly 
got  angry  at  them,  and  curses  flew  at  their  heads  in  a  pitiless  storm. 
Some  of  the  boys  actually  pricked  the  horses  with  their  bayonets. 
But  at  length  they  passed  us,  and  glad  enough  we  were  to  get  rid  of 
them.  We  soon  went  into  camp  in  an  old  corn-field,  and  between 
two  corn  rows  the  writer  laid  his  tired  body  and  was  soon  in  the 
land  of  dreams.  We  never  knew  exactly  what  time  it  was  when  we 
felt  a  shake  and  heard  a  summons  to  wake  up.  The  moon  was 
shining  brightly  and  quiet  reigned  all  around  us.  But  there  was 
something  in  the  wind  more  than  common,  as  we  could  judge  by  the 
subdued  voices  in  which  commands  were  given,  and  when  we  were 
ordered  to  pile  our  knapsacks  and  leave  a  guard  sufficient  to  protect 
them,  it  became  apparent  that  there  was  business  on  hand  which 
needed  our  attention.  But  we  well  remember  what  out  first  impres- 
sions were,  when  the  order  to  pile  knapsacks  was  given.  We  thought 
in  our  innocence  that  the  commanding  powers  had  taken  pity  on  us, 


36  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.   V.   I. 

and  were  going  to  haul  our  knapsacks  for  us  in  the  wagons,  that 
they  had  concluded  to  save  us  the  fatigue  of  carrying  them  our- 
selves ;  so  laboring  under  this  impression  we  silently  fell  into  line 
and  marched  away  in  the  moonlight  back  to  the  pike  from  which  we 
had  moved  the  night  before.  We  well  remember  as  we  silently 
marched  along  that  our  file  leader,  a  comrade  by  the  name  of  Ross, 
had  swinging  to  him  the  half  of  an  old  knapsack  filled  with  honey. 
We  intimated  to  him  that  we  were  particularly  fond  of  honey,  and  if 
he  had  no  objection  we  would  like  to  help  him  eat  what  he  had,  but 
Ross  was  not  in  a  honied  humor  that  morning  and  our  request  was 
denied.  I  never  knew  what  he  did  with  it,  but  am  strongly  inclined 
to  the  belief  that  comrade  Ross  found  other  matters  too  weighty  to 
attend  to  that  morning  besides  eating  honey,  and  that  he  cast  it 
from  him.  We  were  now  on  the  pike,  when  the  order  to  "  halt !" 
was  given.  There  was  an  old  barn  on  the  side  of  the  pike,  and  be- 
hind it  the  head  of  the  regiment  had  stopped.  "  Front  Face," 
"  Right  Dress,"  "  Load  and  Cap,"  were  the  orders  in  quick  succes- 
sion, and  then  the  colonel  riding  down  the  line  informed  us  that  the 
hour  for  battle  had  arrived,  and  he  hoped  every  man  in  the  i25th 
would  do  his  duty.  We  had  come  out  to  fight,  that  was  what  we 
were  there  for,  that  was  our  business,  but  we  will  confess  for  ourself 
our  heart  beat  a  trifle  faster,  and  our  gun  had  a  colder  touch  than 
common,  or  at  least  it  seemed  so.  But  history  was  to  be  made  that 
day,  and  as  it  was  proven  latter  in  the  day^the  i25th  were  willing  to 
make  their  part  of  it.  And  now  the  day  commenced  to  break,  and 
presently  "  bang,"  "  bang,"  went  the  guns,  not  by  volley,  but  ever 
and  anon,  a  desultory  shot  from  the  direction  of  our  skirmish  line, 
showing  that  our  skirmishers  had  run  against  some  obstacle  which 
bore  the  resemblance  of  a  man.  The  daylight  grows  brighter,  and 
the  guns  crack  oftener ;  occasionally  a  volley  is  heard,  and  our 
brigade  commander,  Col.  Dan  McCook,  comes  tearing  down  the 
pike  on  his  war  horse,  and  orders  our  colonel  to  march  the  regiment 
to  the  top  of  a  hill  to  our  left ;  away  we  went,  and  arriving  there 
found  our  battery  "  I"  of  the  2nd  Ills,  artillery  in  position.  We 
were  to  support  it  from  any  and  all  attacks  of  the  rebels.  There 
we  stood  in  line  as  if  on  dress  parade,  but  directly  bullets  came 
whizzine  over  us.  with  now  and  then  a  shell.  Dodeine"  was  the 


THE    I25TH    REGIMENT    I.   V.    I.  37 

order  of  the  day,  and  heads  were  ducking  in  all  directions  ;  still  we 
stood,  until  Col.  McCook  came  riding  up,  and  calling  to  our  colonel 
told  him  to  order  us  to  lie  down.  We  quickly  responded  to  the 
command,  but  not  before  some  of  our  number  had  been  hit.  And 
now  our  battery,  tired  of  being  set  up  as  a  mark,  began  to  return 
the  compliments  of  our  rebel  friends,  and  the  air  was  filled  with  the 
sharp  reports  of  the  guns  and  the  explosion  of  shells,  while  as  a  sort 
of  an  accompaniment  to  the  noise  the  ping  of  the  bullet  was  heard 
all  around  us.  The  battle  had  indeed  opened.  We  lay  in  this 
position  nearly  all  the  forenoon,  when  at  last  there  came  an  order 
for  the  right  wing  of  the  regiment  to  move  across  the  pike  into  some 
woods.  This  we  did,  and  took  position  in  the  rear  of  the  73rd  Ills, 
to  relieve  them  when  their  ammunition  should  give  out,  and  which 
to  judge  by  the  way  they  were  shooting  would  not  be  long.  So 
there  we  lay  expecting  every  moment  to  go  into  action,  but  as  the 
time  passed  away  and  the  73rd  slackened  its  firing  somewhat,  we  be- 
came used  to  our  position,  and  the  crash  of  lead  and  iron  ceased  to 
inspire  us  with  the  blood  curdling  sensation  which  we  had  exper- 
ienced at  the  commencement  of  the  battle.  A  few  only  of  our  boys 
got  hit  as  we  lay  there,  but  the  tops  of  the  trees  suffered  considera- 
bly by  the  solid  shot,  shells,  and  grape  and  canister  that  the  rebe; 
guns  hurled  at  us,  and  we  were  quite  willing  they  should  be  the  vic- 
tims instead  of  us. 

Battle  is  always  a  serious  affair,  and  there  never  was,  nor  ever  will 
be  a  battle  fought  without  its  bringing  sorrow  and  grief  to  many 
homes,  but  it  also  has  its  ludicrous  aspects,  and  I  will  relate  one 
that  happened  here.  As  we  have  said  before,  the  73rd  Ills,  was 
directly  in  front  of  us,  and  when  the  firing  was  at  its  height,  forth 
from  its  ranks  came  a  man  in  the  wildest  manner,  headlong  over  us 
fellows  who  were  laying  on  the  ground,  shouting  at  the  top  of  his 
voice  :  "  Where's  the  doctor  ?  Where's  the  doctor  ?  I'm  shot  in 
the  head !  I'm  killed  !  I'm  killed !"  and  away  he  went  as  fast  as 
he  could  go.  We  looked  after  him  in  surprise,  thinking  he  was  the 
liveliest  corpse  we  had  ever  seen.  That  night  after  the  battle  was 
over,  we  again  saw  this  man,  recognizing  him  by  the  peculiar  color 
of  his  hat. 


38  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 

"  Hello  !"  we  exclaimed,  going  up  to  him,  "  we  thought  you  was 
dead." 

"No,  sir,"  was  the  emphatic  reply,  "but  they  gave  me  a  close 
call,"  and  taking  off  his  hat  he  showed  us  where  a  rifle  ball  had 
raised  a  welt  clear  across  the  top  of  his  head,  from  front  to  rear. 
The  result  was  that  it  partially  crazed  him  for  the  moment,  and  he 
was  not  responsible  for  his  actions.  But  here  at  Perrysville  on  the 
eight  of  October,  1862,  was  where  the  regiment  received  its  "bap- 
tism of  fire,"  and  here  it  was  that  on  that  pctober  afternoon  it  re- 
ceived its  first  order  to  "  charge  bayonets,"  and  to  the  glory  and 
honor  of  the  regiment  be  it  said,  not  a  man  refused  to  obey  the 
command.  Perhaps  the  reader  may  say :  "  I  can  not  see  much 
glory  in  that,  they  were  ordered  to  do  so,  and  they  were  there  to 
obey  orders."  True  enough,  we  reply,  but  when  we  take  into  con- 
sideration the  shortness  of  the  time  since  the  regiment  had  left 
home  without  drill  or  dicipline,  and  how  it  was  forced  right  into  the 
field,  we  do  think,  and  say,  that  the  record  of  that  bayonet  charge, 
bloodless  though  it  was,  was  a  glorious  one.  No  odds  if  we  did  not 
meet  any  enemy  in  our  front,  we  did  not  know  but  we  would,  and 
so  the  absence  of  the  enemy  does  not  in  the  least  detract  from  the 
honor  of  the  regiment.  We  did  not  charge  very  far  before  we  were 
ordered  to  "  halt  and  lie  down."  The  rebels  were  in  full  retreat. 
Why  it  was  that  we  were  not  allowed  to  follow  up  our  victory  and 
capture  or  destroy  the  enemy,  was  and  always  has  been  a  mystery 
to  us.  The  turnpike  in  our  rear  was  filled  with  troops,  who  were 
laying  there  with  their  guns  stacked,  and  never  during  the  day  did 
they  move  from  that  position.  Not  only  infantry,  but  cavalry  and 
artillery ;  yet  we  stood  and  saw  the  foe  quietly  march  away,  leaving 
in  our  hands  the  field  of  battle,  and  their  wounded  and  dead  to  care 
for. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

The  battle  of  Perrysville  was  always  a  mystery  to  us,  and  never, 
although  we  have  searched  for  its  solution  in  many  histories  of  the 
war,  have  we  been  able  to  find  an  answer  to  our  question,  why  it 
was  that  Buell  allowed  Bragg  to  get  away  when  he  had  in  his  hands 
the  power  to  crush  him  there  and  then.  But  with  this  we  have  noth- 
ing to  do  at  this  time,  we  are  trying  to  write  the  record  of  one, 
only,  of  the  regiments  that  helped  to  form  the  army  there  engaged 
that  day.  Suffice  it  to  say  the  battle  ended  at  night  fall.  We  had 
nothing  to  eat  since  the  night  before,  for  the  reason  that  our  sup- 
ply train  could  not  come  to  us,  and  after  the  fight  was  over,  and  the 
over-strung  nerves  began  to  relax,  hunger  took  possession  of  us,  and 
all  set  about  the  hunt  for  food.  The  writer  came  across  some  boys 
who  were  carrying  an  immense  piece  of  beef  which  they  had  obtain- 
ed somewhere  or  other,  and  with  true  soldierly  kindness  they  dona- 
ted him  a  very  considerable  portion  of  it.  Returning  to  the  com- 
mand we  divided  with  our  partner,  and  fastening  our  share  to  a 
sharpened  stick  thrust  it  into  a  fire  which  was  burning  near  by.  We 
were  hungry,  and  although  we  had  no  salt  or  seasoning  of  any  kind 
for  our  beef,  we  ate  it  with  a  relish.  Our  scant  supper  being  finish- 
ed, we  sauntered  off  to  glean  from  those  we  might  meet,  an  account 
of  the  battle  as  they  had  seen  it.  The  serious  part  of  it  was  over, 
for  that  time,  and  now  the  more  comical  side  came  up.  To  hear 
each  one  relate  his  feelings  during  the  time  we  lay  there  under  that 
rain  of  lead  and  iron,  to  hear  the  jokes  that  passed  from  one  to  the 
other,  and  to  hear  how  the  woods  echoed  with  the  shouts  and  laughter 
of  our  boys,  feeling  in  their  own  minds  that  they  had  done  their  duty, 
was  very  diverting.  But  amid  all  this  general  rejoicing  at  the  discom- 
fiture of  our  enemy,there  was  still  a  voice  of  pity  for  the  wounded,  and 
of  sorrow  for  the  many  brave  lads  who  had  that  day  laid  their  young 
lives  upon  their  country's  altar.  Tired  at  last  of  wandering  around,we 
spread  our  blankets  at  the  foot  of  a  tree,  and  with  the  light  of  the 


4O  THE    I25TH    REGIMENT   I.    V.    I. 

full  moon  shining  on  us  we  lay  down  to  rest.  Our  mind  was  filled 
with  many  thoughts,  but  before  we  knew  it  we  were  fast  asleep. 
How  long  we  slept  we  did  not  know,  but  we  were  suddenly  awak- 
ened by  a  noise,  and  on  rising  up  could  see  by  the  light  of  the  moon 
that  our  supply  train  had  come  up,  and  that  Sergeant  Cole,  who  had 
command  of  it,  was  unloading  the  wagons  on  the  ground.  Giving 
our  partner  a  punch,  we  told  him  it  was  time  for  breakfast,  so  up  we 
got  and  made  for  the  nearest  pile  of  hard-tack.  We  filled  our  hav- 
ersacks, and  taking  a  goodly  number  in  our  hands,  beat  a  retreat  to 
our  blankets.  Lying  on  the  ground  we  munched  our  biscuits,  and 
felt  thankful  that  we  were  still  alive.  No  other  disturbance  troubled 
us  that  night,  and  we  awoke  at  reveille  in  the  morning,  refreshed, 
and  ready  for  the  duties  of  the  day.  Fires  were  made,  and  the  air 
was  soon  filled  with  the  aroma  of  coffee,  and  the  smell  of  breakfast 
which  we  were  engaged  in  cooking.  Our  cooking  utensils  were  not 
many  or  of  very  stylish  pattern,  but  they  answered  the  purpose,  after 
a  fashion,  and  that  was  all  we  cared  for.  When  in  camp  regular 
details  were  made,  and  every  company  would  have  its  appointed 
cooks,  whose  duty  it  was  to  have  the  meals  ready  for  the  men  at 
regular  hours.  These  cooks  were  relieved  from  all  other  duty,  and 
consequently  had  nothing  to  do  but  attend  to  this  particular,  and 
very  necessary  branch  of  the  business.  In  the  field  it  was  quite  dif- 
ferent, and  there  every  fellow  had  to  look  out  for  himself. 

But  here  comes  an  orderly  with  dispatches.  What's  up  ?  Going 
to  headquarters  we  ascertain  that  it  is  a  requisition  on  our  regiment 
for  a  burial  party,  to  bury  the  dead  who  had  fallen  the  day  before. 
Luckily,  as  vre  thought,  we  were  not  called  on,  so  finishing  our 
breakfast  we  'started,  in  company  with  several  of  our  comrades,  to 
walk  over  the  battle  field.  There  have  been,  of  course,  larger  bat- 
tles fought,  involving  more  loss  of  blood  than  was  shed  at  Perrys- 
ville  that  day,  but  for  all  that,  it  had  been  a  stubborn  fight,  and  the 
ground  was  covered  with  the  bodies  of  the  slain.  The  blue  and  the 
gray  promiscuously,  lay  around  us.  Here  had  been  a  party  of  the 
enemy  engaged  during  the  lull  in  the  storm  of  battle  in  a  friendly 
game  of  cards ;  a  shell  had  exploded  in  their  midst,  and  left  them 
laying  there  dead  with  the  cards  still  in  their  hands.  Here  lay  a 
man  with  the  top  of  his  head  shot  off ;  yonder  was  one  whose  death 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I.  4t 

must  have  been  instantaneous,  for  his  features  were  not  distorted  as 
if  with  pain,  and  he  looked  as  if  he  was  quietly  sleeping.  But  we 
must  not  stop  too  long  in  our  description.  Death  had  reaped  a 
mighty  harvest  there,  and  had  put  out  forever  the  light,  the  life,  the 
hope,  of  many  a  hearthstone.  Passing  along  we  arrived  at  a  large 
stone  house  which  had  been  converted  by  the  rebels  into  a  hospital, 
and  when  the  army  retreated  of  course  it  and  its  contents,  fell  into 
our  possession.  We  entered  the  small  gate,  and  made  our  way  up 
to  the  front  door  and  walked  in.  There,  stretched  upon  the  bare 
floor,  in  rows,  lay  the  rebel  wounded,  and  among  the  number  sever- 
al whose  lives  had  just  gone  out.  Men  were  here  who  were  suffer- 
ing from  all  manner  of  wounds  ;  and  groans  and  shrieks  rent  the 
air.  One  poor  wretch,  who  sat  with  his  back  against  the  wall,  had 
had  his  tongue  shot  off  by  a  rifle  ball,  and  was  slowly  dying  of 
strangulation.  The  sight  was  too  much  for  us,  and  sick  at  heart  we 
hastily  left  the  house.  The  yard  was  also  filled  with  wounded  men, 
but  the  character  of  their  wounds  was  much  slighter  than  those  in 
the  house.  The  rebel  surgeons  were  passing  around  among  them, 
and  seemed  to  be  doing  all  in  their  power  for  the  helpless  men  about 
them.  There  seemed  to  be  no  ill  will  or  malice  shown  by  any  one, 
but  still  our  boys,  of  whom  quite  a  number  had  assembled  there, 
although  perfectly  willing  to  help,  and  aid  those  who  could  not  help 
themselves,  did  not  like  to  see  too  many  airs  put  on,  nor  too  much 
"  big  me,  and  little  you,"  displayed  by  those  who  were  not  injured. 
One  fellow  was  strutting  around  with  an  overcoat  on  which  he  had 
procured  in  some  way,  how  I  do  not  know,  from  one  of  our  boys, 
when  Captain  Ltvin  Vinson,  of  Co.  "  I,w  with  some  of  his  men  came 
up  ;  they,  like  our  squad,  were  looking  over  the  field,  and  had  just 
arrived  at  this  house  of  which  we  have  been  writing.  The  sight  of 
this  rebel,  marching  around  with  one  of  our  overcoats  on,  was  too 
much  for  private  Joe.  Dysart,  of  the  captain's  squad.  Stepping  up 
to  the  fellow  he  ordered  him  to  take  off  that  coat ;  the  rebel  object- 
ed ;  down  came  Dysart's  gun.  "  Are  you  going  to  take  off  that  coat, 
Johnny  ?"  he  enquired.  The  rebel  saw  that  Joe  meant  business, 
and  without  more  ado  yielded  up  the  garment.  Joe  was  in  earnest, 
and  would  have  made  it  an  expensive  coat  for  the  rebel,  if  he  had 
acted  in  any  way  that  seemed  to  Joe  outrageous. 
6 


42  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 

Remember,  reader,  this  was  our  first  battle,  and  horrible  though  a 
battle  field  is  at  all  times  after  the  struggle,  still  in  after  days  we  did 
not  think  so  much  of  any  little  irregularity  that  might  be  apparent 
in  the  matter  of  uniform.  But  private  Dysart  could  not  at  this  time 
look  with  any  feelings  but  those  of  wrath  at  the  impudence  of  a 
rebel  wearing  a  coat  of  the  same  color  as  his  own,  and  he  was  right. 

Still  we  remained  in  camp,  two  days  passed,  but  finally  at  the  close 
of  the  second  day,  we  received  orders  to  march.  As  is  always  the 
custom  after  heavy  cannonading,  rain  commenced  to  fall,  and  the 
night  set  in  dark  and  stormy.  Why  it  was  that  our  departure  from 
the  battle  field  of  Perrysville  was  delayed  for  two  days,  and  then  the 
march  to  commence  in  the  night,  is  more  than  we  can  explain,  but 
probably  it  was  not  thought  by  our  commanding  general,  that  Bragg 
would  be  able  to  move  his  army,  and  transportation  trains  away  in 
safety,  if  we  had  started  sooner.  The  march  was  not  a  hurried  one, 
so  we  leisurely  jogged  along  until  Crab  Orchard  was  reached. 


CHAPTER  X. 

That  was  the  last  we  saw  of  Bragg's  army  for  many  a  day.  He 
had  left  Kentucky  with  what  was  left  of  his  60,000  followers  who 
were  with  him  when  he  entered  the  state,  in  disgust  perhaps  at 
the  non-military  manner  in  which  our  army  was  manoeuvred,  or  per- 
haps in  order  to  more  easily  obtain  supplies  ;  at  any  rate  he  was 
"  gone  from  our  gaze  like  a  beautiful  dream,"  and  we  went  into 
camp  at  Crab  Orchard.  At  this  place  the  character  of  the  country 
snddenly  changes.  It  becomes  rough  and  barren,  affording  scarcely 
enough  corn  for  its  spare  population  ;  and  the  road  passes  through 
defiles  where  a  small  force  can  resist,  with  great  effect,  a  large  one, 
where  in  fact  the  use  of  a  large  force  is  impracticable.  The  little 
forage  there  was  in  the  country  had  been  consumed  by  the  enemy 
in  his  retreat,  rendering  it  impossible  to  subsist  any  considerable 
number  of  aninrals.  Here  it  was  the  measles  broke  out  in  the  reg- 
iment, and  we  were  in  the  worst  possible  condition  for  such  a  guest, 
a  simple  thing  to  manage  when  the  surroundings  are  favorable,  but 
a  dreadful  distemper  in  the  condition  we  were  at  that  time.  The 
weather  was  chilly  and  cool,  and  the  wind  would  blow  all  day  long. 
It  was  a  sad  sight  to  see  the  boys  who  were  afflicted  with  the  dis- 
ease, stretched  out  on  the  bare  ground,  with  nothing  over  them  but 
a  blanket.  We  were  thankful  it  did  not  rain,  if  it  had  the  mortality 
would  have  been  far  greater  than  it  was,  many  died  however,  and 
there  were  very  few  who  were  able  for  duty.  We  remember  assem- 
bling for  dress  parade  one  evening,  but  as  our  number  was  so  small, 
the  colonel  ordered  us  back  to  our  quarters.  We  had  had  no  tents 
issued  to  us  yet,  and  the  most  of  us  had  thrown  away  our  overcoats, 
being  unable  to  carry  them.  But  now  we  felt  the  need  of  them,  as 
the  nights  were  cold,  and  none  of  us  had  more  than  one  blanket 
apiece.  There  was  grumbling  and  swearing,  but  at  last  some  fellow 
solved  the  problem  and  restored  us  all  to  good  humor.  No  one 
ever  knew  how  "  camp  rumors  "  ever  started,  but  start  they  would, 


44  THE    I25TH   REGIMENT  I.    V.    I. 

and  the  better  they  suited  our  frame  of  mind,  the  faster  they  flew. 
So  one  morning  the  word  went  round  "  that  the  war  was  over,  and 
we  were  all  going  to  be  discharged  and  sent  home  right  away,  this 
was  the  reason  why  new  overcoats  were  not  issued  to  us."  This  was 
the  report  and  was  swallowed  as  gospel  truth.  When  we  were  or- 
dered to  pile  our  knapsacks,  the  morning  of  the  battle  of  Perrys- 
ville,  of  course  we  complied  with  it,'  and  when  they  were  brought  up  to 
us  again  there  was  much  of  their  contents  missing  :  blankets  were 
gone,  had  disappeared  in  some  way,  and  all  that  many  of  us  receiv- 
ed was  our  empty  knapsacks,  they  were  not  in  so  great  demand,  as 
they  could  not  be  utilized  for  any  other  purpose  than  that  for  which 
they  had  been  intended,  so  every  fellow  got  his  knapsack  but  minus 
its  contents,  the  writer  got  his,  but  the  blanket  which  it  had  con- 
tained was  gone,  and  we  thought  we  would  have  much  preferred 
keeping  it  than  to  have  lost  a  dozen  knapsacks.  However  we  did 
not  waste  many  tears  over  it  but  took  the  first  opportunity  to  make 
the  loss  good  by  putting  some  other  fellow  to  a  like  inconvenience. 
One  morning  while  at  Crab  Orchard  as  we  were  passing  around  the 
company  quarters  trying  to  cheer  up  those  who  were  sick,  by  sym- 
pathy and  encouragement,  we  were  hailed  by  a  comrade  to  come  and 
help  him  dust  and  fold  his  blankets.  We  went,  of  course,  and  when 
stooping  over  to  gather  up  the  corner  of  his  blanket,  lo  and  behold 
there  was  our  private  mark,  which  we  had  made  by  slitting  the  cor- 
ner in  three  pieces.  "  Hello,  Mac,"  we  said,  raising  up,  "  where 
did  you  get  this  blanket  ?" 

"  Why,  drew  it  from  the  quartermaster  of  course.  Where  did  you 
suppose  1  got  it  ?" — this  with  the  blandest  and  most  child-like  air. 

"  Drew  it  from  the  quartermaster,"  we  replied.  "  Yes  I  know  how 
you  drew  it,  you  drew  it  from  my  knapsack  at  Perrysville,  you  ras- 
cal, that's  how  you  drew  it." 

"  What  in  thunder  are  you  talking  about,"  said  Mack,  "  here  help 
me  shake  it,  and  don't  go  to  insinuating  that  I  stole  your  old 
blanket." 

But  we  knew  the  property  was  ours,  and  intended  to  hold  on  to 
it,  not  that  we  particularly  needed  it,  for  we  had  obtained  another 
one,  but  we  did  not  propose  to  be  robbed,  as  we  thought  we  were 


THE    I25TH    REGIMENT    I.   V.    I.  45 

being,  in  that  way.  This  was  our  blanket,  there  was  the  mark,  and 
we  were  going  to  have  it.  Mack  was  getting  riled  a  little. 

"  Are  you  going  to  help  me  shake  that  blanket  ?"  he  asked. 

We  replied  "  no,"  that  we  were  going  to  keep  that  blanket  ourself. 
We  were  in  earnest  and  he  saw  it. 

"  I'd  like  to  know  what  makes  you  think  that  its  yours  ?"  he  said, 
in  the  most  innocent  manner. 

We  held  up  the  corner  to  him.  "  Do  you  see  that ;  that's  our 
mark." 

Mac's  countenance  fell,  he  had  never  noticed  that  before,  and 
never  another  word  did  he  say.  He  stooped  over  to  pick  up  anoth- 
er one,  for  he  was,  or  had  been  until  I  came  to  him  by  his  invita- 
tion, the  fortunate  possessor  of  two.  We  were  not  mad  nor  out  of 
humor  the  least  bit,  for  as  the  saying  is  :  "  we  had  been  there  our- 
self," but  we  requested  Mac  to  tell  us  where  he  got  it.  Seeing  that 
we  had  doubled  up  the  blanket  and  held  it  under  our  arm,  and  was 
not  the  least  bit  inclined  to  give  it  up,  he  said  : 

"  Well,  now,  if  you  won't  tell  anybody,  I'll  tell  you  how  I  got  it. 
I  was  coming  along  the  other  night  past  Doc.  McElroy's  quarters, 
and  I  was  on  the  lookout  for  a  blanket.  I  came  right  by  where  the 
doctor's  darkey  had  made  down  his  bed  for  him,  so  I  just  reached 
down,  and  gathered  onto  that  blanket  and  scooted  ;  hold  on,  I'll  tell 
you  the  rest  of  it,"  he  said,  as  he  recovered  from  the  fit  of  laughter 
into  which  the  recollection  of  his  theft  had  thrown  him.  "  I  made 
down  my  bed  pretty  close  to  the  doctor's,  to  see  what  he  would  say 
to  the  darkey  when  he  came.  I  did  not  have  to  wait  long  ;  here 
came  the  doctor.  '  Boy,  got  my  bed  made  yet  ?'  'Oh  yes,  doctor, 
all  right  sah,  made  you  good  bed  to-night,  doctor,'  the  darkey  replied, 
and  soon  the  doctor  proceeded  to  test  the  assurance.  There  was 
the  bed,  sure  enough,  but  when  the  doctor  got  down  on  his  knees, 
and  went  to  turn,  as  he  supposed,  the  top  blanket  down,  nothing 
was  revealed  to  his  astonished  gaze  but  the  bare  ground.  Then, 
said  Mac,  the  trouble  commenced.  Calling  the  darkey  he  asked 
him  if  that  was  what  he  called  a  good  bed,where's  my  other  blanket? 
he  yelled,  and  the  air  was  blue  with  oaths. 

"  Deed,  doctor,  I  lef  him  dar  not  more'n  ten  minutes  ago,  shuah, 
but  he  done  gone  now,  das  a  fac,"  and  the  darkey  gave  a  groan.  "I 


46  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 

spec's  some  of  de  sogers  mus  have  stole  him,  doctor."  And  then 
Mac  said  he  heard  more  oaths,  and  a  noise  as  if  some  one  was  in 
distress,  and  then  a  sudden  cracking  of  the  bushes  as  of  some  one 
runniner,  and  he  heard  the  doctor  yell  out :  "  Leave  here,  you  lazy 
rascal,  you'd  loose  your  head  if  it  was  not  fast  to  you,"  and  gather- 
ing his  only  blanket,  he  saw  him  making  off  with  it  with  the  inten- 
tion, as  Mac  supposed,  of  bunkiner  with  some  body  else  who  was 
blessed  with  more  cover  than  himself. 

Oh  !  said  Mac,  I  thought  I  would  die  laughing.  I  could  not 
hear  all  that  was  said  for  I  was  laying  on  my  back  almost  ready  to 
burst.  I  never  laughed  so  in  all  my  life,  apd  as  laughing  is  conta- 
gious, we  were  soon  laughing  with  him  at  the  rememberance  of  his 
stealing  the  doctor's  blanket.  But  such  was  life  in  the  army.  When- 
ever we  were  in  camp  we  could  obtain  from  the  quartermaster  any- 
thing we  needed  in  the  shape  of  clothing  or  blankets,  but  on  the 
march  it  was  different,  and  if  a  fellow  lost  anything  he  generally 
managed  in  some  way  to  make  himself  whole,  by  appropriating  some 
other  chap's  property.  But  this  was  only  done  in  case  of  necessity, 
there  was  too  much  sterling  integrity  and  manhood  in  the  regiment 
to  allow  of  stealing  maliciously  and  wantonly.  The  quiet  appro- 
priating from  some  other  mess  of  a  blanket,  canteen,  mess-pan  or 
camp  kettle,  by  a  fellow  who  had  lost  his  own,  was  thought  nothing 
of,  provided  the  purloiner  was  not  caught  by  the  real  owner.  In 
that  case  restitution  was  demanded,  and  if  he  could  prove  his  case, 
the  property  would  be  restored. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Well,  Bragg  had  left  us,  and  we  were  all  alone.  So  one  fine  morn- 
ing the  bugle  sounded  the  call  to  fall  in  to  ranks,  and  we  marched 
out  of  camp,  back  on  the  road  we  had  come.  But  not  with  the 
same  feelings,  we  were  getting  tired  of  this  interminable  marching, 
as  it  seemed  to  us  for  no  purpose,  for  the  private  soldier  is  generally 
in  blissful  ignorance  of  the  movements  to  be  made  on  the  board. 
Then  again  many  of  our  comrades  were  not  with  us,  and  we  missed 
their  faces  and  their  forms.  Sickness  had  thinned  our  ranks,  death 
had  removed  many,  and  the  question  rang  out,  "  When  are  we  go- 
ing to  stop  ?"  but  the  days  passed  away  slowly ;  the  march,  march, 
march,  the  scarcity  of  water,  and  the  dust,  and  our  clothing  was 
now  beginning  to  show  the  marks  of  hard  usage.  But  we  buckled 
to  it  and  put  on  as  good  a  face  as  possible.  There  was  always  some 
fellow  who  said  something  whenever  he  opened  his  mouth,  which 
would  provoke  laughter  at  the  most  trying  time,  and  the  one  who 
could  get  up  a  laugh  was  the  hero  of  the  moment,  until  some  one 
else  would  say  something  that  beat  him,  and  then  he  would  assume 
that  honor.  Once  in  a  while  the  drum  and  fife  would  start  up,  and 
that  would  infuse  new  life  into  us,  and  we  would  rattle  off  the  miles 
at  a  good  pace  while  it  lasted  ;  we  used  to  wish  they  would  play  all 
the  time,  but  the  fifer's  lungs  were  not  made  of  leather,  and  the 
drummer's  arms  would  get  tired  ;  so,  as  the  music  ceased,  we  would 
soon  drop  back  into  the  old  step  again.  Many  a  time  we  thought, 
and  exclaimed  like  Richard  "  a  horse,  a  horse,  my  kingdom  for  a 
horse."  Then  some  fellow  would  yell  out:  "  you  couldn't  ride  him 
if  you  had  one,  you  don't  know  how,"  or  would  make  the  enquiry 
if  a  good  mule  would  not  answer  as  well.  And  so  we  passed  the 
time  away  until  one  afternoon,  tired  and  thirsty,  we  found  ourselves 
marching  by  the  side  of  Green  River.  The  road  was  at  quite  an 
elevation  from  the  water,  and  as  we  marched  along  and  looked  down 
upon  its  green,  cool  looking  surface,  choked  with  dust  as  we  were, 


48  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I. 

we  thought  it  the  most  beautiful  sheet  of  water  that  we  had  ever 
seen,  and  would  only  have  been  too  glad  to  have  plunged  into  it  and 
drank  our  fill.  But  we  were  nearing  Bowling  Green,  and  shortly 
went  into  camp.  Bowling  Green  still  contained  evidences  that  an 
army  had  occupied  it  recently,  for  on  all  sides  of  us  we  could  see 
the  earth  works  which  had  been  thrown  up  by  the  rebel  army,  under 
the  command  of  General  Sydney  Johnston,  before  they  evacuated 
the  place,  after  the  fall  of  Fort  Donelson. 

On  the  3<3th  of  October,  Buell  relinquished  the  command  of  our 
army,  and  turned  it  over  to  Major  General  Rosecrans.  Buell  had 
failed  to  cut  off  and  compel  the  surrender  of  Bragg,  and  was  sharp- 
ly censured  for  his  want  of  activity  in  following  up  the  enemy.  We 
were  glad  to  hear  of  his  removal  for  we  were  not  much  inspired  with 
faith  in  the  generalship  of  Buell ;  and  the  fact  was,  the  escape  of 
Bragg,  when  it  was  so  evident  to  the  most  ignorant  soldier  that  he 
could  have  been  destroyed,  had  cast  a  feeling  of  depression  over  us, 
but  now  we  hoped  for  better  things.  We  were  now  about  113  miles 
from  Louisville.  Here  we  received  supplies,  clothing  and  ammuni- 
tion, and  one  fine  morning  broke  camp  for  Nashville,  Tenn.  Here 
at  Bowling  Green  we  had  issued  to  us,  for  the  first  time,  the  regular 
regulation  army  hat.  It  was  a  decidedly  high  toned  affair,  and 
about  as  convenient  an  article  for  a  soldier  in  the  field  as  the  regu- 
lar out  and  out  "  stove  pipe  "  hat  would  have  been.  They  had 
enormous  tops  to  them,  and  a  very  moderate  sized  brim  and  to  see 
a  little  man  don  one  of  these  head  pieces,  and  start  off  with  it,  was 
ludicrous.  The  day  after  receiving  them  we  were  ordered  to  march, 
and  the  journey  that  day  was  enlivened  by  jokes  and  witty  sayings 
about  those  new  hats.  A  little  fellow  would  be  plodding  along 
when  some  fellow  would  yell  out :  "  Say,  Sam,  get  out  of  that  hat,  I 
know  you're  there  for  I  see  your  legs."  This,  and  many  other  like 
it,  were  passed  around,  and  received  with  roars  of  laughter.  But 
we  managed,  by  denting  in  the  top,  to  reduce  their  towering  height 
somewhat,  and  consequently  us  short  fellows  were  not  noticed  so 
much  afterwards.  But  those  hats  caused  many  a  hearty  laugh. 
There  ought  to  have  been,  according  to  the  regulations,  a  brass 
front  piece  to  them,  and  a  feather,  but  these  we  never  got,  and  it 
was  so  much  the  better,  for  it  was  all  we  could  do,  that  is,  some  of 


THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I.  49 

us,  to  manage  them  as  it  was.  Here  at  Bowling  Green,  also,  our 
transportation  was  cut  down.  Heretofore  we  had  been  allowed  one 
wagon  and  team  to  a  company,  now  only  one  wagon  and  team  was 
allowed  to  a  regiment,  besides  the  quartermaster's  teams,  and  the 
consequence  was  that  company  officers  found  themselves  in  a 
quandary.  There  had  been  many  of  our  number  left  behind  us, 
and  their  arms  and  accoutrements  they  had  turned  over  to  their 
company  officers,  who  were  responsible  to  the  government  for  them. 
The  officers  had  thrown  them  into  the  company  wagons,  and  had 
brought  them  along  in  that  way.  Now,  however,  what  were  they  to 
do  with  them  ?  There  was  a  mighty  flying  around  to  the  colonel's 
headquarters  for  instructions,  and  he  ordered  them  to  have  the 
arms  taken  to  the  quartermaster,  and  for  him  to  see  to  it  that  they 
were  carried  forward.  They  did  so,  only  too  glad  to  be  rid  of  them, 
and  quartermaster  Ayres  found  himself  in  possession  of  a  most 
abundant  supply  of  warlike  implements  for  as  peaceful  a  man  as  he 
was.  How  he  managed  to  get  them  along  we  do  not  know ;  but 
Ayres  was  a  man  equal  to  any  emergency,  and  brought  them  in 
triumph  to  Nashville. 

We  were  all  getting  in  much  better  spirits,  the  weather  was  cooler 
and  the  health  of  the  regiment  had  improved  somewhat.  Water 
was  still  scarce  though,  and  the  roads  very  dusty.  But  we  had  a 
new  general  in  the  person  of  Rosecrans,  or  "  old  Rosy,"  as  we  used 
to  call  him,  and  confidence  in  our  new  leader  inspired  our  hearts. 
His  past  record  had  been  a  good  one.  and  at  any  rate  we  did  not 
have  any  fear  of  his  loyalty  as  we  had  had  of  Buell's  after  the  battle 
of  Perryville. 

One  afternoon  as  we  were  marching  along  a  fellow  came  march- 
ing by  us  going  to  the  front,  who  was  crying  and  swearing  in  dutch 
at  a  fearful  rate.  We  thought  at  first  that  he  was  crazy,  but  we 
soon  got  to  talking  with  him  and  wanted  to  know  what  was  the 
matter.  He  was  a  heavy,  stout  looking  man,  and  belonged  to  the 
Second  Missouri,  who  were  ahead  of  us,  but  in  the  same  division. 
The  tears  were  streaming  down  his  cheeks,  and  as  we  inquired  what 
was  the  matter,  he  broke  out  between  his  sobs  :  "  Dem  tarn  rebels, 
dey  kill  mine  brudder  at  Perryville,  tarn  em  !  Tarn  em  !  Tarn  em  !" 
This  was  all  we  could  get  out  of  him  in  regard  to  it.  But  it  seems 
7 


5<3  THE  I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I. 

he  had  remained  behind  in  spite  of  everything,  to  see  that  his  dearly 
loved  brother  received  Christian  burial  at  least,  and  was  just  catch- 
ing up  with  his  regiment.  We  felt  very  sorry  for  him,  but  still,  al- 
though sympathizing  with  him  in  his  sorrow,  we  could  not  but  smile 
at  his  actions.  He  was  terribly  wrought  up,  and  his  tears  had 
formed,  with  the  dust  of  the  road  which  had  settled  on  his  face,  a 
mixture,  which,  as  he  wiped  his  eyes  with  his  hand,  had  been  smear- 
ed all  over  his  countenance,  and  with  his  loud  sobs  and  his  broken 
English  not  spoken  in  soft  accents,  but  bawled  out  as  loud  as  he 
could  bawl,  and  his  oaths  and  curses  at  the  rebels  who  had  killed 
his  "  brudder,"  he  made  altogether  a  curious  looking  specimen  of 
the  "  greenhorn."  He  was  very,  very  mad  about  it,  and  he  would, 
in  his  present  state  of  mind,  have  been  willing  to  fight  the  whole 
southern  confederacy,  if  opportunity  had  offered,  single  handed. 
He  passed  on  and  left  us.  What  became  of  him  I  do  not  know, 
whether  on  some  other  bloody  field  his  spirit  went  to  join  the  loved 
brother,  who  had  gone  before,  or  whether  he  lived  to  get  home  in 
safety,  I  never  could  ascertain.  But  such  was  army  lite,  we  would 
laugh  and  joke  at  the  most  trivial,  and  very  often  at  the  most 
solemn  things.  We  would  remember  a  good  joke  on  any  body  for 
days,  but  a  solemn,  serious  matter  would  soon  pass  out  of  our  minds. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

At  last,  on  the  eight  of  November,  1862,  we  reached  Edgefield, 
on  the  Cumberland  River  directly  opposite  Nashville,  a  distance  of 
one  hundred  and  eighty  three  miles  from  Louisville,  and  went  into 
camp.  On  the  afternoon  of  our  arrival,  after  camp  had  been  es- 
tablished, the  writer  went  over  to  a  house  near  by,  where  there  was, 
what  had  been  the  summer  before,  a  vegetable  garden.  There  were 
several  of  us  in  there,  digging  around  with  sticks  to  get  a  few  onions 
that  had  been  left  in  the  ground.  We  were  all  busily  engaged,  when 
we  heard  a  voice  ring  out  "  what  in — are  you  fellows  doing  in  there  ? 

ye,  get  out  of  there  and  go  to  your  quarters."     We  raised  up, 

and  saw  a  man  of  medium  size  approach  one  of  the  boys  who  was 
busily  engaged  in  digging  for  onions,  and  hit  him  on  the  back, 
shouting  at  the  same  time :  "  Get  out  of  here."  The  man  had  on 
a  long  military  overcoat,  all  buttoned  up,  and  it  was  impossible  to 
tell  who  he  was  by  his  clothing.  The  boy  whom  he  had  struck 
quickly  raised  up,  and  with  a  well  directed  blow  of  his  fist,  knocked 
the  unknown  gentleman  sprawling ;  he  went  one  way,  and  his  cap 
another.  Gathering  himself  up,  he  shouted  :  What  do  you '  mean, 
you  rascal ;  I  am  General  Sheridan."  That  was  all  he  needed  to 
say ;  his  opponent  was  gone  in  a  flash,  and  Sheridan  after  him, 
shouting  out :  "  Stop  that  man  !  stop  that  man  !"  but  the  General's 
legs  were  not  equal  to  the  race,  and  the  boy  succeeded  in  getting  to 
the  camp,  where,  of  course,  it  was  impossible  to  find  him.  The  rest 
of  us  slipped  away  as  quietly  and  quickly  as  possible  to  our  quar- 
ters, carrying  with  us  the  results  of  our  search.  But  we  laughed  and 
laughed  at  the  remembrance  of  it ;  who  the  boy  was,  that  had  so 
wilfully  violated  one  of  the  sternest  of  army  laws,  that  of  striking 
his  superior  officer,  we  never  found  out,  but  we  think  he  belonged 
to  the  52nd  Ohio,  which  regiment,  as  we  have  before  stated,  was 
brigaded  with  us.  We  would  like  to  have  been  at  Sheridan's  head- 
quarters, and  heard  his  account  of  the  affair,  but  perhaps  he  never 


52  THE    I25TH    REGIMENT   I.    V.    I. 

told  it,  although  knowing  him  as  we  did,  we  were  firm  in  the  belief 
that  he  must  have  done  up  a  terrible  amount  of  hard  swearing  at 
such  an  insult  to  his  dignity,  but  he  had  only  himself  to  blame  for 
it.  If  we  could  have  seen  who  it  was,  distinctly,  he  never  would 
have  got  close  enough  to  have  struck  any  one,  for  we  would  have 
fled  at  the  sight  of  him. 

Before  we  reached  Nashville  we  had  received  reports  of  how  hard 
run  the  citizens  of  the  place  were  for  groceries,  more  especially  cof- 
fee, and  had  heard  remarkable  stories  of  the  prices  paid  for  such 
articles.  So  we  had  been  saving  of  our  rations,  thinking,  perhaps, 
that  when  we  arrived  at  Nashville,  we  could  realize  something  for 
them.  We  had  grown  tired  of  hardtack,  and  visions  of  warm  bread, 
butter,  etc.,  floated  through  our  minds.  So  to  saving  we  went;  but 
as  a  true  chronicler,  we  must  state  that  some  of  the  boys  did  not 
show  that  true  honesty  which  ought  to  prevade  all  business  transac- 
tions, but  had  been  boiling  their  coffee  without  grinding  it,  and  after- 
wards drying  it,  and  storing  it  away  in  their  haversacks,  blankets,  or 
any  way  they  could,  so  when  we  finally  reached  Nashville,  there  was 
a  considerable  quantity  of  this  article  in  the  regiment.  The  next 
day  after  our  arrival,  the  writer  and  his  partner,  obtained  a  pass  to 
go  to  the  city.  Tying  up  our  coffee,  which,  by  the  way,  made  a 
considerable  package,  we  started  on  our  trip.  We  arrived  in  the 
city  without  any  trouble,  and  as  we  were  walking  up  a  street,  was 
accosted  by  a  woman  who  wished  to  know  if  we  had  any  coffee  for 
sale.  We  instantly  showed  our  stock,  and  informed  her  that 
she  could  have  it  at  the  rate  of  one  dollar  per  pound.  This  seemed 
in  our  eyes  an  outrageous  price,  put  she  closed  with  our  terms,  and 
after  weighing  it  in  a  store  near  by,  paid  us  for  it  in  good  green- 
backs. We  do  not  remember,  at  this  late  day,  how  much  it  was 
we  received,  but  we  pocketed  it,  all  the  same,  and  started  out  to  find 
a  place  where  we  could  obtain  a  square  meal.  This  was  a  difficult 
task,  for  most  all  the  stores  and  restaurants  were  closed,  but  at  last 
we  managed  to  find  a  little  store  open,  and  in  we  went.  We  en- 
quired for  something  to  eat ;  the  proprietor  informed  us,  a  fact  which 
we  could  plainly  see  for  ourselves,  that  his  stock  had  run  down  some- 
what, owing  to  the  difficulties  of  obtaining  a  new  supply,  and  the 
best  he  could  do  for  us,  he  said,  was  to  offer  us  some  tripe,  which 


THE    I25TH    REGIMENT    I.   V.    I.  53 

he  had  in  a  jar.  We  were  no  way  squeamish,  and  told  him  to  bring 
on  his  tripe.  He  had  but  a  small  supply,  put  when  we  got  through 
he  had  none.  After  the  army  fair  of  "  hardtack  and  sow-belly," 
tripe  seemed  to  us  to  have  a  royal  taste.  We  paid  him  for  his  prop- 
erty and  departed  to  look  up  some  new  field  of  adventure.  Saun- 
tering along  the  streets  we  came  to  a  building  in  front  of  which  we 
saw  a  good  many  of  our  boys,  some  going  away  with  light  bread  in 
their  arms,  and  others  hurrying  up  to  obtain  some.  We  hastened 
our  steps,  and  ascertained  that  light  bread  could  be  bought  there  for 
five  cents  a  loaf.  We  immediately  invested,  and  obtained  as  much 
as  we  could  carry  on  our  arms,  piled  up  like  stove  wood.  We  were 
now  ready  to  return  to  camp,  so  away  we  went.  On  the  road  back 
we  met  a  number  of  our  fellows  coming  along,  and  every  one  want- 
ed light  bread. 

"  What'll  you  take  for  a  loaf  ?"  was  the  enquiry. 

"  Ten  cents  a  loaf,"  was  the  reply.  The  consequence  was  that 
we  did  not  go  far  until  our  bread  was  all  gone  at  double  the  price  we 
had  paid  for  it.  We  then  concluded  to  go  back  and  get  some  for 
ourselves,  but  here  was  where  we  missed  it,  for  on  our  again  apply- 
for  bread,  we  were  told  it  was  all  gone,  and  no  more  could  be  had. 
We  had  contemplated  having  a  good  supper  out  of  that  light  bread, 
which  was  of  good  quality,  but  we  had  foolishly  let  our  desire  for 
speculation  run  away  with  our  supper.  There  was  nothing  left  for 
us  to  do  but  return  to  camp  without  any,  so  away  we  went,  cheering 
ourselves  with  the  thought  that  if  we  had  no  bread,  we  had  some 
money,  which,  as  we  had  never  yet  been  paid  off  by  the  Govern- 
ment, was  something  to  be  glad  of. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

The  Saturday  after  our  arrival  at  Edgefield  the  regiment  received 
orders  to  prepare  for  inspection  the  next  day,  Sunday.  So  at  it  we 
went,  cleaning  up  our  guns  and  making  their  barrels  shine  like  silver. 
This  was  done  by  laying  the  gun  barrel  in  a  strap  in  a  bed  of  ashes 
and  pulling  the  strap  up  and  down,  rolling  the  barrel  with  the  foot. 
After  a  short  application  of  this  kind,  the  barrel  would  be  thorough- 
ly cleaned,  the  friction  with  the  ashes  having  removed  every  particle 
of  rust  and  dirt.  Our  brass  breast  plates  and  belt  plates  were  also 
scoured  up,  and  we  endeavored  by  every  means  in  our  power  to 
clean  up  thoroughly,  and  we  succeeded,  as  we  thought,  splendidly. 
This  was  our  first  regular  inspection,  and  we  were  anxious  that  the 
inspecting  officer  should  make  a  good  report  on  our  appearance. 
So  we  worked  busily  all  day,  and  at  last  felt  confident  that  we  would 
get  a  good  report  out  of  him.  Sunday  morning  came,  bright  and 
beautiful,  and  at  the  hour  specified  the  bugle  sounded  the  assembly. 
We  formed  in  line  by  companies  and  moved  out  to  the  color  line, 
where  we  took  our  places.  "  Attention,  battalion,"  came  the  order 
from  the  adjutant,  "by  companies,  right  wheel,  march!"  "Rear 
rank,  open  order,  march,"  and  there  we  were  ready  for  inspection. 
The  inspecting  officer,  who  seemed  to  be  very  much  of  a  dandy, 
with  long  gauntlets  of  white  leather  on  his  arms,  and  everything 
about  him  looking  as  if  he  had  just  come  o'ut  of  a  band-box,  in 
company  with  our  colonel,  commenced  going  down  the  lines.  The 
appearance  of  the  men  was  good,  the  condition  of  the  arms,  con- 
sidering the  kind  they  were  and  the  long  march  we  had  just  closed, 
were  pronounced  satisfactory.  But  when  he  went  behind  us,  and 
commenced  examining  our  cartridge  boxes,  Oh  !  that  he  had  only 
kept  his  prying  fingers  and  inquisitive  eyes  off  of  them.  In  order 
that  the  reader  may  understand  the  reason  why.  we  must  go  back  a 
little.  When  we  went  into  the  fight  at  Perrysville,  each  man  had 
forty  rounds  of  ball  cartridges  issued  to  him,  with  which  to  fill  his 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I.  55 

I 

cartridge  box,  and  strict  orders  were  given  not  to  waste  or  destroy 
them.  But  the  battle  was  fought,  Bragg  retreated,  we  went  to  Crab 
Orchard,  and  then  turned  back  for  Nashville.  No  enemy  was  near 
us,  as  far  as  we  knew,  and  as  we  were  tired  of  carrying  the  car- 
tridges, we  very  quietly  threw  the  most  of  them  away,  and  in  their 
place  had  put  our  razor,  shaving  soap,  tobacco,  or  any  other  little 
article  that  we  could  stuff  in,  so  that  when  our  cartridge  boxes  were 
opened  by  the  inspecting  officer  on  that  bright  Sabbath  morning, 
his  astonished  gaze,  instead  of  resting  on  villainous  lead  and  pow- 
der, done  up  in  paper,  found  in  their  place  the  implements  of  the 
dressing-room  and  toilet  table.  It  was  too  bad,  we  never  thought 
he  would  look  in  the  boxes,  so  we  had  let  them  remain  in  statu  quo. 
As  he  passed  down  the  lines  of  the  companies  his  astonishment  in- 
creased. The  colonel  was  heartily  ashamed  of  us,  and  to  tell  the 
truth  we  were  a  little  ashamed  of  ourselves.  But  the  "  cat  was  out 
of  the  bag,"  or  more  properly  speaking,  the  cartridges  were  out  of 
the  boxes,  and  as  a  matter  of  course  the  good  report  which  we  had 
desired  was  gone.  In  truth  the  regiment  was  in  a  deplorable  con- 
dition for  ammunition. 

At  dress  parade,  that  evening,  our  colonel  reprimanded  us  severely 
for  our  gross  neglect  of  orders,  and  we  felt  as  if  we  deserved  it.  A 
fresh  supply  was  issued  to  us  the  next  day,  and  the  boxes  filled  up. 

The  center  of  the  rebel  army  at  this  time  was  at  Murfreesboro, 
and  the  principal  part  of  their  army  was  massed  there,  thirty-two 
miles  from  Nashville.  We  had  now  been  in  camp  since  the  eighth 
of  November ;  no  movement  of  any  importance  had  been  made. 
We  had  broken  camp,  however,  at  Edgefield,  once  during  this  time, 
and  marched  with  our  division  to  Mill  Creek,  five '  miles  south  of 
Nashville,  and  had  again  gone  into  camp.  While  here  we  were 
placed  in  the  division  commanded  by  General  Robert  "Mitchell,  and 
on  the  twenty-sixth  of  December,  when  the  army  moved  forward  to 
meet  the  enemy  at  Stone  River,  our  division  was  ordered  back  to 
garrison  the  city  of  Nashville.  We  arrived  inside  of  the  fortifica- 
tions of  the  city  just  at  nightfall  and  went  into  camp  temporarily. 
We  had  now  been  four  months  from  home,  had  had  one  battle  and 
a  weary  march,  so  we  were  noways  displeased  with  the  order,  and 
we  concluded  that  at  last  we  would  now  get  some  of  the  pleasures 


56  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I. 

of  a  soldier's  life,   if  there   were   any.     The   next   few   days    were 
passed  in  selecting  proper  camps  for  us. 

Nashville  at  this  time  was  a  very  important  post  of  the  Union 
Army,  and  here  were  stored  immense  quantities  of  supplies,  food 
forage  and  ammunition,  while  our  direct  line  of  communication, 
north,  was  over  the  line  of  the  Louisville  and  Nashville  rail  road, 
with  John  Morgan  on  hand  to  sever  that  line  whenever  opportunity 
offered.  We  found  the  city  somewhat  recovered  from  the  panic  into 
which  it  had  been  thrown,  on  the  receipt  of  the  news  of  the  fall  of 
Fort  Donelson  at  the  mouth  of  the  Cumberland,  the  river  on  which 
Nashville  is  situated,  and  perhaps  it  would  be  interesting  to  insert 
here  a  description,  by  a  resident,  of  the  panic  which  the  receipt  of 
the  news  of  the  fall  of  Fort  Donelson  caused,  showing  the  terrible 
destruction  of  property,  and  the  ravages  of  the  retreating  rebel 
army. 

"  Just  as  church  services  were  about  to  commence,  there  appear- 
ed at  the  door  a  messenger,  who  instantly  sent  the  sexton  up  to  the 
pulpit  with  a  notice  that :  '  Fort  Donelson  had  surrendered  at  five 
o'clock  this  morning  ;  the  gun  boats  were  coming  up  ;  Buell's  army 
is  at  Springfield,  only  25  miles  north  of  the  city,  and  each  man  must 
take  care  of  himself.'  Then  followed  a  rush  and  a  tumult,  the  like 
of  which  that  city  had  never  seen  before.  Such  hurrying  to  and  fro 
of  carriages,  buggies,  omnibuses  and  baggage  wagons,  with  great 
loads  of  trunks  and  valises,  making  their  way  to  the  depots  of  the 
rail  roads  leading  to  the  southward.  The  Governor,  Isham  G.  Har- 
ris, had  fled  on  a  mule,  and  the  legislators  followed  him  as  rapidly 
as  possible  the  same  day.  Regiments  of  rebel  soldiers  were  coming 
in  from  Bowling  Green,  stealing  and  plundering  on  their  line  of 
march,  from  friend  and  foe.  The  cattle  of  the  farmers  were  shot 
down  in  mere  wantonness,  and  fences  burned.  Nashville  was  the 
chief  depot  for  the  provisions  and  army  stores  for  the  whole  rebel 
dominion  in  the  west,  and  had  the  same  importance  to  the  depart- 
ment there,  as  Richmond  in  the  east.  Of  these  stores  there  were 
millions  of  dollars  in  value  that  could  not  be  moved  in  time.  Word 
was  given  out  for  the  inhabitants  to  come  and  help  themselves, which 
they  did  with  a  will.  In  the  armory  were  deposited  some  five  to 
seven  thousand  rifles.  Two  thousand  of  the  best  were  brought  out 
by  order  of  General  Floyd,  and  burned.  All  these  had  been  im- 
pressed from  the  people  in  the  state,  forcibly  or  otherwise,  as  they 
could  be  found  in  the  owner's  houses.  Two  elegant  steam  boats, 
formerly  in  the  Nashville  and  New  Orleans  trade,  purchased  by  the 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I.  57 

Jeff  Davis  government  at  a  cost  of  $35,000  each,  and  in  process  of 
being  converted  into  gun  boats,  were  burned.  The  rail  road  bridge 
that  cost  $250,000,  and  the  wire  suspension  bridge,  costing  $150,- 
ooo,  both  beautiful  structures,  were  also  burned.  The  mayor,  with 
a  committee  of  leading  citizens,  waited  upon  Floyd,  and  earnestly 
remonstrated  against  the  destruction  of  the  bridges,  but  without  suc- 
cess. Another  fine  steamer,  private  property,  was  burned  by  the 
Texas  Rangers.  Five  or  six  other  steam  boats  that  were  lying  in 
port,  the  owners  had  very  prudently  moved  over  to  the  north  side 
of  the  river,  and  had  thus  escaped  the  torch  of  the  rebels.  From 
the  morning  of  the  i6th  to  the  24th  of  February,  anarchy  and  riot- 
ing prevailed.  Fierce  and  awful  were  the  curses  heaped  upon  John- 
ston, Floyd  and  Pillow,  by  the  retreating  soldiery.  Some  of  them 
swore  they  were  going  home  if  it  cost  them  their  lives.  Five  thous- 
and lives  they  said  had  been  sacrificed  by  Johnston  at  Bowling  Green, 
from  exposure,  bad  fare  and  hard  work,  to  which  not  many  of  them 
had  ever  been  accustomed." 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Our  regiment  was  finally  placed  in  camp  on  top  of  some  high  hills 
in  the  western  part  of  the  city,  behind  fortifications  of  cotton  bales. 
It  brought  to  our  mind  what  we  had  read  about  Jackson  at  New 
Orleans.  On  the  top  of  these  hills,  commanding  an  extensive  view 
of  the  surrounding  country,  we  pitched  our  tents.  We  had  issued 
to  us  the  style  of  tent  called  the  "  Sibley  ;"  patterned  after  the  wig- 
wams of  the  Indians,  conical  shape,  with  a  large  hole  in  the  top  to 
permit  the  escape  of  smoke.  The  tent  pole  consisted  of  a  wooden 
staff  four  or  five  feet  long,  which  rested,  at  its  base,  on  an  iron  tri- 
pod of  about  three  feet  in  hight.  Between  the  legs  of  this  tripod 
we  made  our  fires,  fuel  being  provided  by  the  quartermaster's  de-> 
partment.  At  night  when  we  had  spread  down  our  blankets  inside 
of  the  tents,  which  were  intended  to  accomodate  twenty-five  men 
each,  we  lay  with  our  heads  to  the  outside  of  the  circle,  and  our  feet 
pointing  to  the  fire.  It  was  pretty  close  packing,  but  we  were  good 
natured  for  the  most  part,  and  so  we  got  along  very  well,  although, 
occasionally,  some  fellow  would  make  a  fuss,  but  it  was  soon  stop- 
ped by  every  body  else  yelling  at  him  to  keep  still,  and  yielding  to 
public  opinion  so  emphatically  expressed,  the  disturber  of  the  peace 
would  smother  his  injuries,  fancied  or  real,  in  his  own  breast,  and 
sleep  would  soon  settle  down  upon  our  household. 

While  in  camp  on  these  hills,  some  of  the  friends  of  boys  of  our 
company,  came  to  visit  them.  Solomon  Starr,  John  Huffman,  uncle 
Archie  Gryder  and  several  others.  We  were  all  glad  to  see  them, 
and  in  fact  it  made  no  particular  difference  who  they  had  come  to 
visit,  we  were  all  glad  to  see  them,  for  we  were  nearly  all  acquainted 
with  them ;  at  any  rate  they  had  come  from  what  we  called  "  God's 
country,"  and  they  were  heartily  welcomed.  They  said  they  wanted 
to  see  how  "  soldiering  went,"  so  we  fed  them  well  on  what  we  had, 
not  forgetting  to  supply  them  liberally  with  that  delicious  dish  which 
some  one  had  named  "  s —  of  a  b — ;"  where  in  the  world  he  ever 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I.  59 

got  the  name  from  we  never  could  find  out,  or  why  it  should  have 
been  thus  named,  for  it  certainly  bore  not  the  slightest  resemblance 
to  any  member  of  the  canine  race.  This  beautiful  dish,  in  order 
that  all  may  know  how  it  was  prepared,  was  made  as  follows  :  hard- 
tack broken  up  into  small  pieces,  and  then  fried  or  boiled  in  grease 
and  water  until  it  has  swelled,  and  become  as  tough  almost  as  india- 
rubber.  This  is  what  we  regaled  our  guests  with,  and  they  accepted 
it  with  credulity.  At  night  we  would  scatter  them  around  in  the 
different  tents,  as  it  was  impossible  to  keep  them  all  in  one  without 
putting  us  to  great  inconvenience.  So  one  night  there  came  up  a 
heavy  storm  of  wind  and  rain,  and  the  water  flowed  through  the  tents, 
soaking  our  blankets  and  everything  else.  Our  guests  left  us  in  the 
morning,  expressing  themselves  as  being  fully  satisfied  with  their  ex- 
perience. "  Soldiering  was  not  so  very  hard,"  they  said,  "  but  then, 
at  times,  was  inconvenient,  and  indeed  they  must  hurry  home,  they 
had  not  intended  to  have  staid  nearly  so  long  as  they  had,  etc.,  etc." 
At  this  late  day,  whenever  you  meet  one  of  them,  and  ask  him  if  he 
remembers  the  night  he  passed  in  camp  with  us  at  Nashville,  he  will 
tell  you  with  a  groan  that,  "  yes  he  believes  he  does  remember 
something  about  it,"  and  will  always  add :  "  you  have  reference  to 
the  night  it  rained  so." 

It  was  not  long  before  Nashville  seemed  to  rouse  itself,  and  assume 
something  like  its  former  appearance,  and  to  look  as  it  had  before 
war  breathed  its  desolating  breath  upon  the  city.  The  stores  were 
opened,  the  hotels  commenced  filling  up,  and  as  far  as  war  was  con- 
cerned, nothing  was  observable  in  the  city  to  denote  a  state  of  war, 
or  that  the  city  was  under  martial  law,  except  the  passing  of  army 
wagons,  or  the  tread  of  the  provost  guard.  Order  reigned,  and 
protection  from  crime  was  given  to  all.  The  theatres  were  opened 
and  played  to  full  houses  nightly;  mostly  officers  and  soldiers  filled 
them,  although  generally  there  was  a  fair  sprinkling  of  citizens  in 
the  audience.  Pieces  bearing  directly  upon  the  war,  with  strong 
union  sentiments,  were  placed  upon  the  boards,  and  the  performance 
would  be  interspersed  with  songs  of  the  most  loyal  character.  One 
day  there  came  an  order  for  us  to  "  strike  tents."  We  had  no  idea 
of  where  we  were  going,  but  our  march  was  not  a  long  one,  merely 
across  the  Cumberland  to  Edgefield,  where  we  went  into  the  old 
camp  just  vacated  by  the  i6th  Illinois.  A  more  beautiful  camp  we 
had  never  seen.  The  quarters  of  the  men  were  made  of  cane, which 
the  1 6th  had  procured  some  where  in  the  neighborhood,  and  out  of 
which  they  had  contrived  to  make  a  camp,  at  once  beautiful  and 
artistic.  All  of  the  old  boys  will  well  remember  it. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

We  were  now  fairly  at  work  doing  garrison  duty,  furnishing  daily 
details  for  provost  guard,  train  guard,  picket  guard,  and  all  manner 
of  guard  duty  that  can  be  thought  of.  Our  picket  line  extended  in 
the  shape  of  a  horseshoe  around  the  city,  both  flanks  of  the  line 
resting  on  the  river.  General  James  D.  Morgan  commanded  our 
division,  and  General  Mitchell  the  post,  at  Nashville.  Strict  disci- 
pline was  maintained,  and  we  often  thought  that  if  the  citizens  of 
Nashville  would  have  expressed  their  honest  opinion  they  would 
with  one  accord  have  agreed  that  never  was  there  better  order  in 
their  city.  There  were  some  union  people  here,  but  the  most  of 
the  inhabitant  were  cherishing  in  their  bosoms,  and  rolling  it  as  a 
sweet  morsel  under  their  tongues,  the  cause  of  the  south.  On  the 
morning  of  the  3ist  of  December  the  battle  of  Stone  River  or 
Murfreesboro  opened.  The  cannonading  could  be  plainly  heard  at 
Nashville,  and  at  night  fall  we  were  alarmed  with  the  news  that  the 
right  wing  of  our  army  had  been  crushed  and  driven  back,  and  that 
the  battle  was  strongly  in  favor  of  the  rebels.  Anxiety  was  visible 
on  every  face,  and  everything  was  done  that  was  thought  necessary 
to  insure  the  safety  of  the  city  if  the  news  proved  to  be  true.  We 
say  every  face,  but  we  are  mistaken,  some  there  were  who  could 
hardly  repress  their  joy  at  the  intelligence  that  their  rebel  friends 
were  in  a  fair  way  to  drive  back  the  northern '"  mud-sills,"  but  these 
reckoned  without  their  host.  True  it  was  that  the  third  division  of 
McCook's  corps,  commanded  by  Sheridan,  our  old  division,  and 
which  three  times  that  day  had  repulsed  the  desperate  charges  of 
the  enemy,  were  themselves  repulsed  when  the  enemy,  with  rein- 
forcements, for  the  fourth  time  assailed  them.  But  it  fought  on  un- 
til one-fourth  of  its  number  lay  bleeding  and  dying  upon  the  field, 
and  its  last  brigade  commander  had  been  killed,  then  it  gave  way 
and  all  three  of  the  divisions  in  the  corps  were  hurled  back  together 
into  the  immense  series  of  cedar  thickets  which  skirted  the  turnpike 


THE    I25TH    REGIMENT   I.    V.    I.  6 1 

and  extended  far  off  to  the  right.  But  Rosecrans  was  not  whipped, 
though  the  rebels  had  momentarily  overpowered  the  right  wing  of 
his  army,  and  he  vigorously  set  to  work  to  retrieve  the  disaster. 
Brigades  and  batteries  from  the  divisions  of  Rousseau,  Negly  and 
Palmer  were  ordered  to  the  right  to  check  the  progress  of  the  foe 
and  rally  the  fugitives.  The  infantry  was  rapidly  massed  in  an 
array  of  imposing  strength  along  the  turnpike,  and  facing  the  woods 
through  which  the  rebels  were  advancing.  Still  the  broken  divis- 
ions of  McCook  disputed  the  ground  while  retreating,  and  deeds  of 
heroism  were  performed  by  officers  and  men  in  those  dark  thickets. 
Yet  in  spite  of  the  desperate  struggle  which  marked  every  fresh  ad- 
vance of  the  enemy,  in  spite  of  the  heroic  sacrifice  of  life  on  the 
part  of  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  union  army,  the  rebels  still 
steadily  advanced,  and  came  nearer  to  the  turnpike.  Nearly  two 
miles  and  a  half  had  the  right  wing  yielded,  and  all  the  reinforce- 
ments that  had  been  hurried  into  the  woods  to  sustain  it,  had  failed. 
The  roar  of  cannon,  the  bursting  of  shells,  the  crash  of  shot  through 
the  trees,  and  the  continuous  roll  of  musketry,  all  mingled  in  one 
tremendious  volume  of  sound,  which  rolled  on,  nearer  and  nearer, 
to  the  turnpike,  where  the  genius  and  vigor  of  Rosecrans  had  mass- 
ed the  forces  that  were  to  receive  the  enemy,  when  he  should  emerge 
from  the  woods  in  pursuit  of  our  retreating  battalions.  Col.  Loomis 
was  there  with  his  ist  Michigan  Battery,  and  Stokes  with  the  guns 
furnsihed  by  the  Chicago  Board  of  Trade,  and  Mendenhall  and 
Guenther,  with  their  regular  artillery.  There  were  also  the  troops  of 
General  Wood,  the  brigades  of  Rousseau  under  Schribner,  Beatty 
and  Shepherd.  At  last  the  long  lines  of  the  enemy,  rank  upon 
rank,  charged  from  the  wood.  A  sheet  of  flame  burst  from  the 
union  ranks,  a  crash  rent  the  atmosphere,  and  the  artillery  shook  the 
earth.  The  foremost  line  of  the  rebel  host  was  literally  swept  away; 
and  then  both  armies  were  enveloped  in  a  vast  cloud  of  smoke.  For 
ten  minutes  the  thunder  of  battle  burst  forth  from  the  cloud,  and 
when  our  battalions  advanced,  they  found  no  rebels  between  the 
turnpike  and  woods,  except  the  disabled,  the  dying  and  the  dead. 
The  soil  was  red  with  blood,  for  within  a  brief  space  of  time,  the 
slaughter  had  been  awful.  Our  troops  having  repulsed  the  rebel 
left,  pushed  into  the  woods  after  them,  and  drove  them  back  over 


62  THE    I25TH    REGIMENT    I.   V.    I. 

the  ground  they  had  at  first  occupied.  Other  desperate  encounters 
occurred  during  the  day,  all  along  the  line.  It  was  eleven  o'clock 
when  Hardee  was  repulsed.  In  the  mean  time,  while  the  battle  was 
raging  on  the  right,  an  attack  was  made  upon  Palmer's  division,  but 
the  rebels  were  driven  back  with  loss.  There  was  now  a  lull  in  the 
storm  of  battle,  and  scarcely  a  volley  of  musketry  or  boom  of  can- 
non was  heard  for  three  quarters  of  an  'hour.  Some  hoped  that 
these  bloody  scenes  were  ended  for  the  day;  but  the  rebel  leaders, 
disappointed  by  their  failure  to  penetrate  to  our  camp  by  way  of  the 
right  wing,  were  preparing  for  a  bold  blow  at  the  centre.  All  the 
reserves  were  attached  to  the  centre  of  their  army  under  Polk  ;  and 
Bragg  in  person  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  the  columns.  And 
now  was  presented  an  imposing  spectacle.  The  nature  of  the  ground 
in  this  part  of  the  field  was  such  that  every  movement  of  either 
army  could  be  distinctly  seen.  The  open  fields  toward  Murfrees- 
boro  were  smooth  enough  for  a  holiday  parade  ground.  A  fierce 
cannonade  up  the  turnpike  announced  the  coming  onset,  and  from 
the  very  woods  out  of  which  the  rebel  cavalry  issued  on  Monday 
evening,  the  first  line  of  battle  now  sallied  forth. 

It  came  on  in  magnificent  order;  and  stretching  away  diagonally 
across  a  great  sloping  field,  its  length  seemed  interminable.  At  a 
sufficient  interval  another  line  deployed  into  the  open  ground,  par- 
allel with  the  first,  and  ere  the  forward  battalions  were  engaged,  a 
third  line  of  battle  came  forth  from  the  same  woods.  It  seemed  that 
our  feeble  lines  in  that  direction  must  be  crushed  by  the  weight  of  these 
immense  masses  of  living  and  moving  men.  But  the  ever  watchful 
eye  of  Rosecrans  had  detected  the  rebel  design,  even  before  their 
first  line  of  battle  had  emerged  from  among  the  trees.  The  union 
army  was  like  a  set  of  chess  men  in  his  hands,  and  its  different  brig- 
ades and  divisions,  were  moved  about  with  as  much  facility,  as  are 
pawns  and  pieces  in  that  grand  old  game.  The  least  exhausted 
troops  of  the  left  and  centre,  were  hurried  forward  on  the  double 
quick  to  combat  this  new  effort  of  the  enemy,  and  even  from  the 
extreme  left,  where  Van  Cleve  was  posted,  a  brigade  was  brought 
over  to  take  part  in  the  defense.  The  same  formidable  array  of 
batteries  and  battalions  again  confronted  the  foe,  as  that  upon 
which  the  violence  of  Hardee's  corps  had  spent  itself,  and  similar 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I.  63 

results  followed.  Almost  simultaneously  a  sheet  of  fire  leaped  forth 
from  each  of  the  opposing  lines,  and  for  a  few  minutes  both  lines 
stood  like  walls  of  stone,  discharging  their  deadly  missiles  into  each 
others  bosoms.  Then  the  rebels  attempted  to  charge,  but  a  storm 
of  lead  and  iron  hail  burst  in  their  faces,  and  all  around  them,  sweep- 
ing them  down  by  hundreds.  If  once  the  soldiers  of  the  union  wa- 
vered before  this  fiery  onset,  it  was  only  for  a  moment,  and  in  forty 
minutes  from  the  time  the  first  rebel  line  marched  forth,  all  three  of 
them  had  been  dashed  to  pieces,  and  the  survivors  of  the  conflict 
flying  in  wild  confusion  over  the  slope,  were  disappearing  in  the 
depths  of  the  woods.  The  battle  for  the  day  was  over.  But  who 
can  describe  the  sufferings  which  followed.  The  night  air  was 
pinching  cold,  and  in  the  midst  of  those  gloomy  forests  of  pine  and 
cedars  on  the  right,  numbers  of  men  lay  freezing,  bleeding,  dying; 
whom  no  human  hand  would  ever  succor.  The  rebel  pickets  ad- 
vanced at  night  to  the  edge  of  the  woods  skirting  the  open  ground, 
which  was  the  scene  of  Hardee's  terrible  repulse.  The  hostile  lines 
of  battle  were  probably  a  thousand  yards  apart.  The  intervening 
space  was  covered  with  wounded  who  could  not  be  carried  off.  He 
who  chose  to  risk  it,  could  crawl  carefully  up  to  the  edge  of  the 
woods,  and  hear  the  shrieks  and  groans  of  the  wounded  men  who 
were  laying  by  hundreds  among  the  trees.  The  men  in  our  advance 
line  lay  down  as  well  as  they  could  upon  the  ground  over  which  the 
storm  of  battle  had  swept.  It  was  difficult  to  distinguish  the  bodies 
of  the  sleepers  from  the  corpses,  living  and  dead  were  slumbering 
peacefully  together.  There  were  places  that  night,  indeed,  where 
sleep  came  not  to  steep  the  senses  in  gentle  forgetfulness.  The  poor 
soldier,  whom  the  bullets  of  the  enemy  had  not  yet  reached,  could 
gather  a  few  leaves,  or  sticks,  or  corn  stalks,  for  a  bed,  clasp  his 
faithful  rifle  in  his  arms,  and  with  his  blanket  around  him,  if  he  were 
so  fortunate  as  to  possess  one,  sleep  soundly,  notwithstanding  the 
bitter  cold.  He  could  build  no  fires,  for  that  would  reveal  our  posi- 
tion to  the  enemy  ;  but  so  fatigued  was  he,  that  he  could  still  slum- 
ber although  his  frame  shivered  involuntarily  in  the  windy  night  at- 
mosphere. But  the  mangled  hero,  laying  in  the  field  or  hospital, 
knew  no  repose.  Pain  drove  sleep  away,  and  to  those .  who  felt 
themselves  maimed,  crippled  for  life,  the  keen  mental  anguish  must 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I.  64 

have  been  more  intolerable  than  physical  pain.  And  there  were  the 
faithful  surgeons,  too,  who  knew  no  rest  from  their  dreadful  labors, 
and  toiled  on  through  the  long  and  weary  night.  And  so  the  days 
passed  until  Sunday  came,  and  the  soldiers  awoke  on  Sunday  morn- 
ing to  find  the  ground  covered  with  snow,  and  on  that  day  General 
Rosecrans  entered  Murfreesboro  ;  Bragg  having  retreated  with  all  his 
force.  The  total  loss  incurred  by  the  union  army  was  1 1,285,  killed, 
wounded  and  missing  ;  of  this  number  2,800  were  missing.  The 
rebel  loss  was  estimated  at  over  14,000  killed  and  wounded.  And 
so  ended  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro,  one  of  the  bloodiest  battles  of 
the  war.  It  had  been  gained  at  a  terrible  cost  of  life  and  blood, 
but  such  are  the  wages  that  war  demands.  We  have  given  this  dis- 
cription  of  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro.  for  the  purpose  merely  of 
giving  the  reader  to  understand  that  the  reports  which  reached  our 
ears  at  Nashville,  were  not  idle  rumors,  but  that  the  situation  had 
been  a  trying  one  for  our  army,  and  one  that  called  for  vigilance  on 
the  part  of  those  who  had  the  city  of  Nashville  in  their  charge. 
Every  preparation  had  been  made  there  to  receive  the  enemy,  if,  un- 
fortunately, he  should  overcome  our  forces,  but  as  the  result  proved 
they  were  not  needed. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

While  at  Nashville  many  incidents  happened  in  camp  and  we  will 
relate  one  of  them  here.  Our  sutler,  Charley  Pratt,  had  found  a 
very  neat  sutler's  store,  built  of  plank,  and  fitted  up  in  a  very  sub- 
stantial manner,  probably  by  the  sutler  of  the  i6th  111.,  and  he  was 
not  slow  to  appropriate  the  building  to  his  own  use.  In  this  he 
opened  out  his  goods  for  our  inspection  and  benefit,  and  we  were 
pretty  good  customers.  Charley  had  bought  some  fresh  fish  of 
which  he  sold  a  good  many  to  the  officers.  These  fish  lay  on  a 
shelf  in  the  rear  end  of  his  shebang,  but  in  such  a  way  as  to  pre- 
sent an  inviting  appearance  to  all.  On  the  day  to  which  we  refer, 
Charley  had  received  a  fresh  supply,  and  among  the  number  was  one 
uncommonly  nice  large  fellow.  Directly  over  this  fish  was  a  large 
knot-hole  looking  to  the  rear  of  the  store.  Now  there  had  been  the 
usual  crowd  all  the  morning  around  the  sutler's  store,  and  in  the 

crowd  was  Jake  E •  .     Jake    was  a  good  soldier,  but  had  very 

crude  notions  of  the  rights  of  "  mine  and  thine."  Such  thoughts 
never  bothered  Jake  when  anything  particularly  tempted  his  vision, 
especially  if  it  was  anything  good  to  eat.  Charley  was  aware  of 
this  fact,  and  when  during  the  morning  he  happened  to  glance  over 
towards  his  fish  rack,  behold  the  big  fish  was  gone.  He  reflected  a 
moment ;  he  had  not  sold  it,  he  knew  ;  his  eye  rested  on  the  knot- 
hole ;  a  closer  inspection  showed  scales  adhering  to  the  edge  of 
the  plank  ;  he  put  this  and  that  together  and  finally  it  beamed  upon 
his  mind  that  his  big  fish,  his  pride  and  joy,  had  been  appropriated 
by  some  one  who  had  not  left  him  an  equivalent.  Jake  had  disap- 
peared too.  A  happy  thought  struck  Charley,  and  off  he  posted  to 
our  captain.  The  result  of  the  interview  was  apparent  when  Cap. 
was  seen  to  come  out  of  his  quarters  and  going  into  the  tent  of  the 
first  man  who  was  nearest  to  him,  commenced  a  search,  as  if  look- 
ing for  lost  property.  This  he  kept  up  until  Jake's  tent  was  reach- 
ed ;  in  went  the  captain.  Jacob  was  reclining  on  his  bunk  in  inno- 
9 


66  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 

cent  ease,  and  when  the  captain  entered,  he  greeted  him  with  a  cor- 
dial good  morning.  The  captain  returned  the  salutation  and  went 
on  with  his  search. 

"Get  up  Jacob."  he  said,  as  he  approached  the  recumbent  warrior. 

"Why.  cap.,  what  are  you  hunting  for?" 

"  I'm  looking  for  a  big  fish  that  Pratt  says  was  stolen  from  him 
this  morning." 

"A  fish,"  says  Jake,  "well  now,  cap.,  there's  no  fish  here,  I've 
been  laying  here  all  the  morning,  as  I  didn't  feel  very  well,  and  if 
any  one  had  brought  a  fish  in  here  I  would  surely  have  seen  it." 

"  Well,  well,  get  up,"  says  the  captain,  "  I  have  examined  all  the 
other  boys'  quarters  and  I  must  examine  your's  too,  get  up,  Jacob." 

Unwillingly  Jake  arose.  The  captain  gathered  up  a  blanket 
which  he  had  under  his  head  for  a  pillow.  Holding  it  up  and  giving 
it  a  gentle  shake,  out  dropped  the  lost  fish,  or  a  twin  brother  to  it. 
Jake  had  nothing  to  say,  the  captain  looked  amazed,  quietly  picked 
up  the  fish  and  carried  him  off  in  triumph  to  the  sutler.  At  roll 
call  that  evening  the  captain  stated  the  facts  of  the  case  as  far  as 
he  knew  them  to  the  company. 

"  And  now,  boys,"  said  he,  "  I  want  you  to  convene  a  court  mar- 
tial, organize  it  in  accordance  with  army  regulations,  bring  before  it 
Pratt  as  the  plaintiff,  and  Jacob  as  the  defendant.  If  upon  evidence 
you  find  that  Jacob  has  been  guilty  of  stealing  the  fish,  sentence  * 
him  to  such  punishment  as  you  think  the  case  demands  ;  we  don't 
want  any  stealing  here ;  if  on  the  contrary  you  find  the  evidence 
faulty,  why  then  of  course  you  will  acquit  him." 

The  captain's  suggestions  were  carried  out  the  next  morning.  A 
regular  court  martial  was  convened,  and  Pratt  and  the  prisoner 
brought  before  it.  The  testimony  was  taken  pro  and  con,  and  the 
result  was  that  the  theft  of  the  fish  was  laid  without  any  doubt  on 
Jacob's  shoulders,  and  the  sentence  of  the  court  was  that  Jacob 
should  be  thrown  in  the  river.  As  might  be  expected,  Jake  remon- 
strated strongly  against  such  severe  treatment,  as  he  could  not  swim. 
But  it  was  no  use,  the  sentence  had  been  pronounced  and  must  be 
carried  out,  so  he  soon  found  himself  being  hurried  vigorously  to 
ward  the  river.  Arriving  there  he  was  gathered  up  by  two  stout  fel- 
lows, and  in  he  was  sent  head  over  heels.  He  sank  and  came  to 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I.  67 

the  surface  again.  The  Cumberland  is  a  very  swift  stream,  and 
Jacob  was  soon  going  with  the  current,  when  some  fellow  stuck  out 
a  long  pole  to  him  and  pulled  him  ashore.  He  climbed  up  the 
bank  very  wet,  as  might  be  supposed,  and  awful  mad,  and  amid  the 
laughter  of  all  present,  for  the  scene  had  drawn  a  large  crowd  to 
the  river  side,  he  started  for  camp,  swearing  vengeance  on  the  mem- 
bers of  that  court  martial.  Rushing  to  his  quarters,  he  grabbed  his 
gun  with  the  expressed  intention  of  blowing  the  whole  outfit  to 
kingdom  come,  but  his  gun  was  soon  taken  away  from  him.  Jake 
was  awful  mad,  and  all  he  wanted  was  an  opportunity  to  retaliate, 
and  it  came  in  due  order.  Not  many  days'  after  we  received  orders 
to  prepare  for  inspection,  and  when  we  went  to  our  beds  that  night 
we  laid  down  with  an  inward  feeling  that  we  would  pass  a  good 
inspection  on  the  morrow.  Our  guns  and  accoutrements  were  in 
splendid  condition,  and  each  fellow  had  blacked  his  shoes  until  they 
fairly  glistened.  These  we  placed  carefully  in  front  of  our  tents, 
for  there  was  a  nice  cane  arbor  there  which  kept  off  the  dew,  and 
turned  in  for  the  night.  It  so  happened  that  Dave  W — : — .,  of  our 
company,  had  been,  as  Jake  thought,  rather  prominent  in  his  trial 
and  punishment,  and  to  Dave's  tent  he  made  his  way.  Everything 
was  quiet,  all  were  asleep  in  the  tent.  There  stood  Dave's  boots  as 
bright  as  leather  could  be  made.  It  did  not  take  Jake  long  to  ac- 
complish his  errand,  and  when  David  went  to  pull  on  his  boots  to 
attend  roll  call  at  daylight  the  next  morning,  he  found  them  filled 
with  a  very  unpleasant  composition.  There  was  a  row ;  Dave  got 
late  to  roll  call  and  came  near  being  placed  on  extra  duty  for  it,  but 
nothing  more  was  said  about  it  that  ever  we  heard  of,  and  it  was 
not  until  long  afterwards  that  it  leaked  out  who  had  put  Dave's 
boots  to  a  use  for  which  they  never  were  intended.  Regular  details 
as  we  have  before  stated,  were  made  every  day  for  provost  duty  in 
the  city,  and  each  company  furnished  the  detail  as  its  turn  came 
around.  It  was  not  very  severe  work,  but  on  the  contrary  was 
often  mixed  up  with  a  good  deal  of  fun.  One  morning  the  provost 
detail  from  Co.  "B"  reported  at  regimental  headquarters  for  duty, 
and  were  sent  under  command  of  corporal  James  Duncan  over  to 
the  city  to  relieve  the  guard  then  on  duty  there.  The  guard's  head- 
quarters in  town  were  in  the  building  used  for  the  custom  house. 


68  THE    I25TH    REGIMENT   I.    V.    I. 

The  front  part  of  the  building  was  used  by  the  guard,  and  a  room 
in  the  rear  by  a  captain  who  had  charge  of  the  custom  house  busi- 
ness. This  captain  was  a  very  pompous,  dignified,  little  creature, 
and  if  we  mistake  not,  was  an  officer  of  the  regular  army.  At  any 
rate  he  acted  as  if  this  world  was  not  quite  good  enough  for  him, 
and  as  if  a  private  soldier  was  a  being  so  much  beneath  his  dignity, 
that  the  only  place  suitable  for  him  was  in  the  field  ;  there  he  would 
serve  to  keep  the  naughty  enemy  away  and  our  little  captain's  pre- 
cious body  would  not  be  endangered.  Well,  corporal  Duncan 
marched  his  squad  over  to  town,  arrived  in  due  time  at  the  custom 
house,  and  reported  to  the  non-commissioned  officer  in  charge  that 
he  would  relieve  him.  The  change  was  soon  made,  and  away  went 
the  relieved  guard  to  their  regimental  quarters,  leaving  corporal 
Duncan  and  his  squad  in  possession.  For  a  few  moments  the  cor- 
poral was  busy  attending  to  his  duties  and  getting  his  men  ready 
for  the  duty  to  be  performed  by  them,  when  suddenly,  "  Corporal 
of  the  guard,"  came  the  summons,  in  a  very  imperious  tone,  from 
the  room  occupied  by  the  captain  just  mentioned.  Dropping  every- 
thing, the  corporal  started  to  see  what  was  wanted.  The  door  of 
the  room  was  open,  and  he  marched  into  the  august  presence  of 
the  little  captain,  who  looking  up  cast  on  him  for  a  moment  a  dis- 
dainful glance. 

"  Go  back,  sir,  and  come  in  again,"  was  the  command.  Jim  obey- 
ed, and  again  made  his  appearance. 

"  Go  back  again,  sir,"  shouted  the  captain.  Again  he  made  his 
exit,  wondering  to  himself  what  in  the  world  that  fellow  meant. 
Again  he  returned,  and  again  the  same  command  for  him  to  "  go , 
back."  Jim  was  getting  mad  ;  he  did  not  like  to  be  made  a  fool  of 
by  this  little  pop-in-jay  in  shoulder  straps,  and  the  sequel  might  have 
proved  unpleasant  if  it  had  gone  on  much  longer.  But  at  last  the 
little  captain,  very  red  in  the  face,  shouted  at  him  : 

"  Go  back  and  come  in  again,  sir,  and  when  you  come  in,  salute 
me  in  a  proper  manner." 

Poor  Jim  obeyed  this  time  and  the  irate  little  captain  was  satisfi- 
ed, as  Jim,  with  not  a  very  good  grace,  raised  his  hand  to  his  cap  in 
regular  military  salute.  Pop-in-jay  then  gave  him  some  orders,  and 
Jim  came  back  to  us  shutting  the  room  door  in  a  manner  more  for- 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I.  69 

cible  than  pleasant  to  the  nerves  of  the  conceited  fop  inside.  Was 
Jim  mad  do  you  ask  ?  well  slightly  we  remark.  Did  you  ever  see 
a  hornet's  nest  stirred  up?  how  mad  each  individual  hornet  will  get ! 
well,  Jim  was  as  mad  as  a  whole  nest  of  hornets,  and  he  vowed  the 
deepest  vengence  on  that  captain.  But  that  was  all  that  ever  came 
of  it.  Corporal  Duncan  was  one  of  our  best  men,  and  was  liked 
by  all,  and  was  always  ready  for  duty  ;  but  ever  after  this  affair,  if 
any  one  wanted  to  be  particularly  aggravating  and  tantalizing,  they 
would  ask  Jim  "  if  he  didn't  think  he  could  give  'em  a  salute,  this 
fine  morning."  Poor  fellow,  he  contracted  the  small-pox  while  at 
Nashville,  and  came  very  near  dying ;  but  he  recovered  at  last,  bad- 
ly disfigured,  and  with  the  loss  of  an  eye.  He  vvas  discharged  and 
sent  home. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

While  at  Nashville  the  pay  master  came,  and  gave  us  six  months 
pay.  This  was  very  welcome,  for  the  regiment  was  about  cleaned 
out  of  money.  We  were,  all  of*  us,  more  or  less  in  debt  to  one  an- 
other, and  some  of  the  debts  were  contracted  for  very  singular  pur- 
poses. Card  playing  was  a  great  pastime  with  many ;  poker  being 
the  game  most  in  vogue.  But  poker  playing  without  money,  was 
considered  rather  dry  fun.  So  some  ingenious  chap  hit  upon  the 
plan  of  each  fellow  giving  his  note  for  his  losses,  payable  at  pay  day. 
There  was  a  good  many  of  these  notes  in  camp,  and  now  that  pay 
day  had  come,  the  holders  of  them  were  clamorous  for  their  money. 
We  do  not  know  how  they  ever  settled  it,  as  we  were  not  given  to 
card  playing  ourself.  and  consequently  had  no  interest  in  the  matter, 
but  we  heard  considerable  fuss  made,  and  several  fights  occurred 
over  the  trouble,  which  generally  was  wound  up  by  the  participators 
being  ordered  to  stand  on  a  barrel,  or  carry  a  rail  for  a  certain 
length  of  time.  But  now  that  we  had  money  once  more,  things  be- 
gan to  look  a  little  different  in  the  dress  of  the  men.  Paper  collars 
made  their  appearance,  fine  boots,  hats  purchased  in  the  stores  of 
Nashville,  and  clothing  of  the  regulation  style  and  color,  but  of  finer 
material,  were  sported  every  day  on  the  persons  of  the  warriors. 
Many  sent  their  money  home  by  express,  others  opened  up  "chuck- 
a-luck  "  banks,  and  in  some  cases  won  a  good  deal  of  money,  while 
some  lost  all  they  had.  At  Nashville,  too,  we  received,  officially, 
the  President's  Emancipation  Proclamation.  It  caused  a  great  stir. 
There  were  many  who  were  opposed  to  it  (  we  have  reference  to  the 
army  of  course ),  and  several  officers  resigned  their  positions  and 
went  home.  The  army  was  better  off  without  them.  The  procla- 
mation was  a  matter  of  earnest  and  grave  debate  with  us  all,  and 
strong  and  stubborn  arguments  were  urged  on  both  sides.  It  will 
be  as  well  to  remark  here  that  when  the  regiment  was  organized  its 
political  complection  was  of  a  decided  democratic  tinge.  We  had 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I.  71 

faith  in  Douglas'  doctrine,  and  many  of  us  thought  it  a  cruel  and  out- 
rageous piece  of  business  to  deprive  the  South  of  its  slavery  in  this 
way.  But  how  different  the  subject  looks  to  us  now.  Douglas 
sleeps  in  his  quiet  tomb  on  the  shores  of  Lake  Michigan,  while  the 
remains  of  the  mighty  Lincoln,  the  promulgator  of  the  immortal 
proclamation,  the  wise  and  good  ruler,  "  with  malice  toward  none, 
and  with  charity  for  all,"  quietly  rests  in  the  mausoleum  at  Spring- 
field, the  capitol  of  the  state  he  loved  so  well.  President  Lincoln 
followed  the  logical  course  of  events  in  issuing  this  proclamation. 
He  was  neither  too  soon  nor  too  late  with  it.  He  had  a  host  of  in- 
terests to  consult,  all  of  which  involved  the  social,  commercial  and 
political  happiness  of  the  country.  He  found  the  institution  of 
slavery  sustaining  a  great  agricultural  interest  in  many  states  of  the 
Union.  Cotton,  sugar,  rice  and  tobacco,  and  other  staples,  seemed 
to  live  upon  its  labor,  and  vast  European  and  American  enterprises 
depended  on  its  preservation.  The  villages  of  Lancashire,  the  count- 
ing rooms  of  New  York,  the  mills  of  Massachusetts,  the  looms  of 
France ;  to  the  uttermost  ends  of  the  eaath,  in  India  and  Australia, 
the  safety  of  the  cotton  crop,  and  the  protection  of  cotton  labor, 
were  matters  of  comfort,  necessity  and  bread.  It  was  not  an  easy 
matter  to  proclaim  a  decree,  so  universal  in  its  application,  and  so 
radical  in  its  operation,  and  to  the  wisdom  and  sagacity  of  our  mar- 
tyred President  let  us  record  it,  that  he  did  not  issue  the  proclama- 
tion until  justified  by  the  treason  and  violence  of  the  promoters  of 
the  cotton  interest,  and  masters  of  cotton  labor. 

But  our  stay  at  Nashville  was  drawing  to  a  close.  We  had  been 
here  so  long  that  it  seemed  to  many  of  us  when  marching  orders  at 
length  came,  like  leaving  home.  We  had  formed  acquaintance  with 
a  good  many  of  the  citizens,  and  had  established  very  social  terms 
with  them,  and,  in  fact,  were  enjoying  ourselves  very  pleasantly. 
But  the  life  of  a  soldier  is  always  uncertain,  and  his  abiding  place 
transitory,  here  to  day  and  gone  to  morrow.  We  had  been  in  Nash- 
ville at  this  time  about  six  months,  and  it  was  now  June.  Shortly 
after  our  arrival  here,  the  "  weeding  out "  of  the  regiment,  as  it 
might  be  called,  took  place.  Many  officers,  finding  themselves  un- 
fit, physically,  for  the  arduous  labors  of  the  field,  resigned.  The 
men  whom  sickness  and  disease  had  rendered  unfit  for  further  ser- 


72  THE    I25TH    REGIMENT    I.   V.    I. 

vice,  were  discharged  and  sent  home,  and  the  effective  force  of  the 
regiment  was  thoroughly  cleared  of  all  incumbrances,  and  brought 
up  to  the  highest  military  standard.  The  time  had  not  been  wast- 
ed, but  every  day  drilling,  and  manoeuAering  had  been  practiced. 
The  regiment  had  been  relieved  of  its  worthless  Austrian  rifles,  and 
given  the  Enfield,  a  splendid  weapon.  We  all  had  good  clothing, 
and  good  health.  The  first  rough  edge  of  our  soldier  life,  had  been 
taken  off,  and  we  were  now  inured  to  anything  reasonable  in  the 
shape  of  hardship  and  exposure. 

So  at  last  one  bright  June  morning  in  1863,  the  orders  came  for 
us  to  "  strike  tents."  We  had  also  received,  while  here  at  Nashville, 
our  shelter,  or  as  the  boys  called  them,  our  "  dog  tents,"  and  as  it 
may  be  interesting  to  some  who  read  these  pages,  we  will  discribe 
what  the  "  dog  tent"  was  like.  It  consisted  of  two  pieces  of  canvas 
about  four  feet  in  length  and  three  in  width.  One  end  of  these 
pieces  had  button  holes  worked  in  it,  and  the  other  buttons.  Two 
men  occupied  each  tent,  and  of  course  each  fellow  selected  his  own 
tent  mate,  or  "  partner,"  as  we  used  to  call  him.  Each  man  carried, 
when  on  the  march,  one-half  of  the  tent,  in  other  words  each  man 
carried  the  half  of  his  house  roof,  and  it  was  a  very  particular  mat- 
ter that  no  disturbance  should  arise  between  these  "dog  tent" 
dwellers,  for  if  there  did  one  fellow  would  walk  off  with  his  half  of 
the  house,  leaving  the  other  one  to  make  the  best  of  the  situation. 
But  happily  for  us  good  feeling  prevailed  throughout  the  entire  reg- 
iment amongst  the  men.  Of  course  there  were  a  few  who  were 
naturally  inclined  to  be  peevish  and  irritable,  but  they  soon  got  over 
it  when  they  found  the  majority  were  opposed  to  such  exhibitions  of 
ill  nature.  These  "  dog  tents"  were  about  three  feet  high,  and  in 
consequence  whenever  we  wanted  to  get  into  them,  we  had  to  come 
down  on  our  knees  and  crawl  in,  hence  their  name.  They  answered 
very  well  for  us  short  fellows,  but  the  long  legged  chaps  found  it 
difficult  to  keep  their  feet  inside  of  the  house.  When  we  arrived  in 
camp  at  night  it  was  a  simple  matter  to  pitch  them  ;  every  other 
man,  nearly,  was  supplied  with  a  neat  little  hand-ax,  and  all  the 
labor  required  in  erecting  our  tents  was  to  cut  two  forked  sticks, 
sharpen  the  ends  and  drive  them  into  the  ground,  a  long  straight 
stick  for  the  ridge  pole,  the  ends  of  the  tent  buttoned  together  and 
thrown  over  it  and  staked  down  to  the  ground,  and  the  house  was 
ready  for  occupation.  They  answered  the  purpose  very  well  for  life 
in  the  field,  and  were  tolerably  comfortable. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

We  firmly  believe  that  the  mule  and  dog  tent,  were  two  great  le- 
vers in  aiding  to  put  down  the  rebellion,  for  it  would  have  been  im- 
possible to  have  transported,  in  wagons,  tentage  enough  for  that 
great  army.  But  Oh  !  how  mad  we  got  when  they  were  first  issued 
to  us.  We  swore  "  we  wouldn't  have  anything  to  do  with  'em,  they 
were  pretty  looking  things  to  give  a  man  to  sleep  under,"  and  our 
anger  at  the  Government  was  great.  But  time  makes  all  things 
even,  and  we  found  that  the  genius  that  had  invented  the  "  dog- 
tent,"  was  worthy  all  praise.  Their  erection  and  taking  down  was 
but  the  work  of  a  few  moments,  and  when  each  piece  was  tightly 
rolled  up  it  formed  a  very  small  parcel,  and  handy  to  carry.  So 
away  we  marched  from  Nashville,  as  finely  an  equipped  army  division 
as  ever  took  the  field.  We  were  indeed  a  small  world  within  our- 
selves, and  each  man  carried  with  him  his  own  board  and  lodging. 
We  were  on  the  march  for  Murfreesboro,  and  camped  for  the  night 
at  Lavergne,  a  small  place  fifteen  miles  south  east  of  Nashville. 
Next  morning  we  were  again  on  the  move  for  Murfreesboro,  which 
place  we  reached  that  day,  and  went  into  camp.  All  around  the 
place  were  visible  signs  of  the  terrible  struggle  which  had  taken 
place.  Here  were  the  rebel  breast  works  and  fortifications,  erected 
by  the  negroes,  under  the  eye  of  skillful  engineers  who  had  been  ed- 
ucated at  the  expense  of  that  government  against  which  they  were 
now  directing  their  best  efforts.  Here  were  the  ruts  which  had  been 
cut  by  army  wagons  and  artillery,  showing  the  terrible  condition  in 
which  the  ground  must  have  been.  The  skeletons  of  horses  and 
mules  were  all  around  us  ;  here  lay  a  broken  and  dismantled  gun 
carriage,  yonder  a  wrecked  ambulance,  and  look  which  way  you 
would,  desolation  and  ruin  met  the  eye.  Here,  also,  were  the  win- 
ter quarters  which  the  rebel  army  had  provided  for  themselves, 
thinking  that  we  would  go  into  winter  quarters  at  Nashville,  and 
perhaps  that  they  might  themselves  be  able  to  occupy  that  place. 
10 


74  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 

But  they  were  doomed  to  disappointment,  and  neither  place  gave 
them  rest  for  the  soles  of  their  feet.  We  only  remained  at  Mur- 
freesboro  a  few  days  when  we  were  again  ordered  to  move. 

Chattanooga  was  now  the  objective  point  of  the  General  Com- 
manding, and  thither  we  bent  our  steps  as  rapidly  as  possible.  To 
reach  that  point  from  the  position  we  now  occupied,  required  a 
march  of  from  sixty-five  to  seventy  miles,  over  a  country  destitute  of 
forage,  poorly  supplied  with  water,  and  narrow  and  difficult  wagon 
roads.  Before  again  commencing  active  operations  however.  Gen- 
eral Rosecrans  determined  to  repair  the  Nashville  and  Chattanooga 
rail  road,  to  bring  forward  the  needful  subsistence  and  forage  for  the 
army,  which  it  would  be  impossible  to  transport  on  wagons.  At 
Stevenson,  Alabama,  these  supplies  having  accumulated  in  sufficient 
quantities  by  the  eighth  of  August,  corps  commanders  were  that 
day  directed  to  supply  their  troops  as  soon  as  possible  with  rations 
and  forage  for  a  general  movement.  We  began  the  march  across 
the  Cumberland  Mountains  on  the  morning  of  the  i6th  of  August, 
1863,  and  completed  the  movement  by  the  evening  of  the  aoth.  We 
made  a  good  part  of  the  march  after  night,  over  the  roughest  roads 
imaginable;  now  winding  along  the  side  of  the  Tennesee  River, 
which  we  could  see  far  down  below  us,  with  the  stars  reflected  in  its 
bosom;  now  down  a  jump  off  of  at  least  two  feet,  tumbling  and 
stumbling  over  rocks  and  boulders,  we  wended  our  weary  way.  It 
was  a  hard  march,  and  we  were  thankful  when  it  was  over.  But  the 
object  of  our  General  was  accomplished,  and  the  rebels  were  flank- 
ed out  of  Chattanooga,  which  had  been  very  properly  called  the  Gib- 
eraltar  of  the  West.  It  was  indeed  a  strongly  fortified  place  natural- 
ly. It  lays  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Tennessee  River,  and  was  al- 
most impregnable  from  the  front.  But  the  flank  movement  of  Ros- 
ecrans was  too  much  for  the  rebels,  and  on  the  eighth  of  September, 
they  evacuated  the  place,  and  our  army  took  peaceable  possession. 
We  were  now  under  command  of  Major  General  Gordon  Granger. 
Marching  through  Chattanooga,  which  did  not  look  as  if  it  had  ever 
been  much  of  a  town,  we  moved  out  to  a  little  place  called  Ross- 
ville  and  went  into  camp.  Here  it  was  that  an  incident  occurred 
which  for  a  time  threatened  to  create  a  great  disturbance.  General 
Granger  had  issued  strict  orders,  forbidding  foraging  by  the  men, 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I.  75 

but  in  spite  of  all  orders  to  the  contrary  they  would  slip  out  into 
the  adjacent  country  and  procure  what  they  could  in  the  shape  of 
eatables.  On  this  afternoon  to  which  we  have  reference,  General 
Granger  was  sitting  in  the  yard  in  front  of  his  headquarters,  when 
from  up  the  road  which  passed  in  front  of  him,  came  a  couple  of 
boys  loaded  down  with  fresh  meat. 

•'  Halt  there,"  said  Granger.     "  What  have  you  got  there  ?" 

"  Meat,"  said  the  boys. 

"  March  in  here,"  came  the  command,  and  into  the  yard  with 
their  meat  they  went. 

"  Did  you  not  know  that  my  orders  forbade  foraging  ?  Throw 
your  meat  down  there,  and  take  one  of  those  rails,  each  one  of  you, 
and  march  around  that  tree,"  pointing  to  a  tree  that  stood  near  by. 
They  silently  obeyed.  Granger  resumed  his  position,  from  which  he 
had  arisen,  cursing  and  swearing.  He  had  not  been  seated  long, 
however,  before  another  squad  came  marching  by 'laden  down  with 
eatables. 

"  Halt !"  again  rang  out.  "  March  in  here  you  men,  and  throw 
your  stuff  on  that  meat ;  pick  up  a  rail  apiece,  and  march  around 
that  tree." 

As  before  the  order  was  obeyed.  Granger  was  furious,  and  strid- 
ing off  to  his  adjutant's  tent,  ordered  him  to  send  out  some  mount- 
ed men,  and  bring  to  his  headquarters,  all  men  found  foraging.  The 
order  was  given,  and  soon  the  horsemen  were  seen  riding  on  their 
errand.  They  returned  after  a  while  with  quite  a  squad  of  unfortu- 
nates who  were  loaded  down  with  all  conceivable  manner  of  food. 
Marching  them  into  the  presence  of  Granger,  they  were  ordered  to 
do  as  the  others  had  done,  and  such  another  pile  of  eatables  that 
yard  had  never  before  seen.  Chickens,ducks,geese,turkeys,  flour,  hams, 
honey,  grapes,  "potatoes,  the  carcases  of  calves,  sheep  and  hogs,  ev- 
erything almost  that  could  be  thought  of.  On  to  the  pile  they  were 
thrown,  and  each  fellow,  shouldering  a  rail,  commenced  his  march 
around  a  tree.  Granger  was  wild  with  rage  ;  he  stamped  and  swore 
"  His  orders  had  been  willfully  disobeyed,  and,  by  G — d,  he  was  go- 
ing to  make  an  example  of  these  fellows."  Calling  for  the  sergeant 
of  his  headquarters  guard,  which,  on  that  evening,  happened  to  be 
from  our  regiment,  and  which,  if  we  are  not  mistaken,  was  under 


76  THE    I25TH    REGIMENT    I.    V.    I. 

command  of  sergeant  Poage,  of  Co.  "  E.,"  he  ordered  him  to  go  to 
the  teamsters  and  get  a  "  black-snake."  But  all  this  had  not  hap- 
pened without  the  knowledge  of  the  rest  of  the  command,  and  soon 
quite  a  crowd  had  collected  around  to  see  the  boys  as  they  marched 
up  under  arrest,  but  as  soon  as  they  heard  the  order  for  the  sergeant 
to  go  for  the""  black-snake."  they  hurried  off  to  their  quarters. 
Granger  never  knew  how  near  he  was  death's  door  that  evening,  for 
the  boys  were  about  to  mutiny,  and  the  first  lash  that  had  been  giv- 
en, would  have  been  the  signal  for  the  trouble  to  begin.  The  whole 
affair  had  been  arranged  almost  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  and  as 
soon  as  the  first  blow  had  been  struck,  the  signal  would  have  been 
sounded,  which  would  have  swept  Granger  and  his  headquarters 
from  the  face  of  the  earth.  But  the  cooler  reasoning  of  General 
Stedman  and  Colonel  McCook  at  last  prevailed  with  the  maddened 
general,  and  in  place  of  the  whipping,  the  boys,  with  backs  bared, 
were  tied  by  the  thumbs  to  wagon  wheels,  a  prey  to  the  voracious 
mosquito.  What  was  ever  done  with  that  huge  pile  of  provisions 
in  the  yard,  we  do  not  know,  but  are  inclined  to  the  opinion  that 
the  doughty  Granger  feasted  on  a  goodly  share  of  them.  From  that 
day  on  our  dislike  for  Granger  was  intense ;  he  had  proved  himself 
a  tyrant,  and  a  man  of  ungovernable  passion,  and  we  fairly  hated 
him. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

On  the  evening  of  the  i8th  of  September  rapid  cannonading  was 
heard  off  to  our  left  in  the  direction  of  Chickamauga  Creek.  Dis- 
patches were  soon  received  that  Col.  Minty,  with  his  cavalry,  had 
encountered  the  enemy  at  Reed's  bridge  across  the  Chickamauga, 
and  was  being  heavily  pushed.  Orders  were  immediately  issued  for 
our  brigade  to  move  out  to  his  support.  It  was  almost  sun  down 
when  we  started,  and  when  night  overtook  us  the  firing  had  ceased. 
It  was  getting  dark  when  the  head  of  our  column  ran  into  the  rear 
end  of  a  rebel  wagon  train  moving  on  a  road  crossing  ours.  We 
were  in  the  midst  of  a  cedar  thicket  along  either  side  of  the  road 
so  close  and  dense  that  a  horse  could  not  have  been  turned  around 
in  it.  The  meeting  of  this  wagon  train  was  as  much  a  surprise  to 
us  as  it  probably  was  to  them,  for  we  had  no  skirmishers  out  and 
were  marching  along  in  every  day  style.  We  were  in  a  bad  shape, 
certainly,  but  we  will  not  stop  now  to  argue  about  the  matter.  As 
quietly  and  quickly  as  possible  the  brigade  was  formed  in  line  of 
battle  at  right  angles  with  the  road,  and  skirmishers  thrown  out,  but 
no  enemy  was  found  excepting  the  members  of  a  brass  band,  who 
had  been  following  along  behind  the  rebel  wagon  train.  These, 
with  their  instruments  on  their  backs,  were  quickly  taken  in  "  out 
of  the  wet."  The  skirmishers  were  recalled,  a  strong  picket  guard 
posted  and  the  regiment  proceeded  to  pass  the  night.  No  fires 
were  allowed,  and  as  quietly  as  possible  we  laid  down  on  our  arms. 
We  had  eaten  nothing  since  noon,  but  we  had  marched  rapidly  and 
were  tired,  and  worn,  and  soon  were  asleep.  At  the  earliest  peep 
of  day  we  were  awakened,  not  by  the  bugle,  however,  but  by  our 
officers  going  around  and  rousing  up  the  men.  Orders  were  given 
at  day-break  to  make  small  fires  and  boil  our  coffee.  This  we  did 
gladly,  and  soon  each  man  had  a  tin  full  of  good  warm  coffee, which 
was  highly  relished.  But  we  were  not  given  much  time  to  tarry,  for 
soon  the  order  came  to  "  fall  in."  The  entire  brigade  in  line  of 


78  THE    I25TH    REGIMENT    I.   V.    I. 

battle,  but  without  any  skirmishers,  moved  forward  down  through 
the  brush,  which  was  more  open  than  formerly.  We  had  not  pro- 
ceeded far  when  up  came  the  brigade  quartermaster,  C.  H.  Deane, 
of  Peoria,  as  fast  as  his  horse  could  travel.  '•'•  Halt !"  rang  out. 
The  quartermaster  riding  up  to  Col.  McCook,  handed  him  an  or- 
der ;  reading  it  hastily,  he  immediately  gave  the  command  :  "About 
face  !"  "  File  right,  march."  Back  we  went  at  a  good  pace.  We 
of  course  did  not  know  at  the  time  the  reason  for  this  rapid  move- 
ment, but  we  found  out  afterwards  that  we  had  been  marching  into 
the  nicest  kind  of  a  trap,  which  the  rebels  had  laid  for  us,  and  if 
the  quartermaster  had  been  delayed  but  a  short  time,  the  fate  of 
the  3rd  brigade,  and  division,  i4th  army  corps  would  have  been 
sealed.  We  were  surrounded  on  three  sides  and  the  rebels  were  do- 
ing their  level  best  to  close  up  the  other  end  when  we  marched  out 
just  a  little  too  soon  for  them. 

And  now  we  come  to  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  the  second  field 
engagement  which  had  taken  place  under  the  leadership  of  General 
Rosecrans  since  he  assumed  command  of  the  army  of  the  Cumber- 
land, and  as  it  may  prove  interesting,  we  will  endeavor  to  give  a 
more  extended  sketch  of  it  than  would  be  necessary  if  we  only 
chronicle  the  movements  of  our  own  regiment.  The  morning  of 
Saturday  the  igth  of  September  dawned  on  the  first  day  of  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga.  The  early  forenoon  passed  away  without 
forewarning  of  the  approaching  conflict,  but  shortly  before  1 1 
o'clock  the  storm  that  had  been  brewing  all  the  morning  on  the 
rebel  side,  burst  forth.  At  that  time  a  long  mass  of  rebel  infantry 
was  seen  advancing  upon  General  Brannan's  division  on  the  extreme 
left.  It  first  came  upon  the  second  brigade,  Col.  Croxton  command- 
ing, and  soon  forced  it  back,  despite  its  determined  resistance.  The 
two  other  brigades  of  the  division  at  once  came  to  its  assistance 
and  succeeded  in  checking  the  progress  of  the  rebels  and  driving 
them  back.  But  their  column  being,  in  turn,  strongly  reinforced, 
they  advanced  again  with  wild  yells.  So  powerful  was  the  momen- 
tum of  the  assault  that  it  pushed  Brannan  back  to  and  beyond  his 
position  in  the  line,  thus  uncovering  the  left  of  Baird's  division, 
which  at  once  became  fiercely  engaged.  The  storm  rolling  from 
left  to  right,  fell  next  upon  Johnson,  and  almost  simultaneously  on 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I.  79 

Reynold's,  who  wavering  at  times,  but  again  regaining  their  firmness, 
gave  back  a  little  but  again  advanced,  until  the  troops  of  Brannan 
and  Baird,  rallied  by  their  leaders,  came  up  once  more  to  the  work. 
Then  the  order  was  issued  for  the  entire  line  to  advance,  and  noth- 
ing in  military  history  exceeds  in  grandeur  the  charge  of  that  pow- 
erful corps.  Longstreet's  men,  from  Virginia  were  directly  opposed 
to  the  troops  of  Thomas,  and  although  they  fought  with  stubborn 
determination,  they  could  not  for  a  moment  check  the  steady  march 
of  those  veteran  battalions.  They  had  already  pushed  the  enemy 
before  them  for  three-quarters  of  a  mile,  recovering  all  the  lost 
ground  and  all  of  the  material  of  war  lost  in  the  morning,  and 
Longstreet  was  threatened  with  annihilation,  when  a  new  danger 
caused  him  to  halt.  While  our  left  was  driving  Longstreet's  corps, 
Polk  and  Hill  threw  themselves  impetuously  upon  Palmer  and  Van 
Cleve,  of  Crittenden's  Corps,  who  failing  to  advance,  left  a  gap  be- 
tween himself  and  Thomas.  These  divisions  were  speedily  broken 
in  pieces  and  their  complete  rout  was  imminent,  when  Davis's  di- 
vision came  to  their  support,  and  for  a  time  restored  the  fortunes  of 
the  day.  But  the  enemy,  knowing  that  all  depended  upon  his  mak- 
ing a  diversion  in  favor  of  the  defeated  Longstreet,  massed  nearly 
the  whole  of  his  available  force,  hurled  it  upon  Van  Cleve  and 
Davis,  drove  the  former  to  the  right  and  the  latter  to  the  left,  and 
entered  boldly  the  opening  thus  made.  In  this  junction,  General 
Rosecrans  called  up  the  division  of  Wood  and  Negley,  and  threw 
them  into  the  gap.  After  a  brief  contest  the  rebels  found  themselves 
matched.  An  advance  was  ordered,  and  by  sunset  the  original  pos- 
ition of  the  morning  was  gained.  During  the  night  of  Saturday  to 
Sunday,  General  Rosecrans  made  some  changes  in  the  disposition 
of  his  forces,  and  the  line  was  so  far  withdrawn,  that  it  rested  along 
a  cross  road  running  north-east  and  south-west  and  connecting  the 
Rossville  with  the  Lafayette  road.  By  this  change  the  line  was  con- 
tracted by  a  mile,  and  the  right  wing  caused  to  rest  on  a  strong  pos- 
ition at  Mission  Ridge.  The  different  divisions  were  disposed  in 
this  order.  From  right  to  left,  one  brigade  of  Negley,  Johnson, 
Baird,  Palmer,  Reynolds ;  two  brigades  of  Negley,  Wood,  Sheridan 
and  Davis,  with  the  mounted  brigades  of  Wilder  and  Minty  cover- 
ing the  right  flank.  As  before,  Thomas  held  the  left,  Chittenden 


80  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 

the  centre,  and  McCook  the  right.  Upon  the  right  of  General 
Thomas'  line,  as  held  by  Reynolds  and  Brannan,  was  a  slight  rise  in 
the  plain,  and  from  the  top  of  this,  the  field  could  be  commanded.  It 
was  the  key  to  the  position.  During  the  night  Thomas'  troops  had 
built  a  rude  breast  woak  of  logs  and  rails  for  their  protection.  The 
battle  of  Sunday  opened  at  10  o'clock  in  the  morning.  The  enemy 
repeating  the  tactics  of  the  previous  day  by  throwing  themselves 
first  upon  the  extreme  left  of  the  line  formed  by  General  Beatty's 
brigade,  of  Negley's  division,  and  for  two  hours  a  fierce  fire  swept 
along  the  line  of  Thomas  without  his  budging  an  inch.  Again  and 
again  the  rebels  advancing  en  echilon  by  brigade  from  the  cover  of 
the  woods  into  the  open  corn-field,  charged  with  impetuous  fury  and 
terrific  yells  towards  the  breast  works  of  logs  and  rails.  But  each 
time  the  fiery  blasts  from  our  batteries  and  battalions  swept  over 
and  around  them  and  their  ranks  were  crumbled  and  swept  away. 
In  answer  to  a  message  from  General  Thomas,  asking  for  reinforce- 
ments, which  led  General  Rosecrans  to  believe  that  General  Bran- 
nan  was  out  of  line  and  that  General  Reynold's  right  was  exposed, 
orders  were  dispatched  to  General  Wood  to  close  upon  Reynold's, 
and  word  was  sent  to  General  Thomas  that  he  should  be  supported, 
even  if  it  took  away  the  whole  corps  of  Crittenden  and  McCook. 
General  Davis  was  ordered  to  close  on  General  Wood,  and  General 
McCook  was  advised  of  the  state  of  affairs,  and  ordered  to  close 
his  whole  command  to  the  left  with  all  dispatch.  General  Wood, 
overlooking  the  directions  to  "  close  up"  on  General  Reynolds,  sup- 
posed he  was  to  support  him  by  withdrawing  from  the  line,  and 
passing  to  the  rear  of  General  Brannan,  who  it  appears  was  not  out 
of  line,  but  was  in  echilon,  and  slightly  in  rear  of  Reynolds'  right. 
By  this  unfortunate  mistake  a  gap  was  opened  in  the  line  of  battle, 
of  which  the  enemy  took  instant  advantage,  and  striking  Davis  in 
flank  and  rear,  as  well  as  in  front,  threw  his  whole  division  into  con- 
fusion. The  same  attack  shattered  the  right  brigade  of  Wood  be- 
fore it  had  cleared  the  space.  The  right  of  Brannan  was  thrown 
back,  and  two  of  his  battalions,  then  in  movement  to  a  new  posi- 
tion, were  taken  in  flank  and  thrown  back  through  the  brigades  of 
Van  Cleve,  then  on  the  march  to  the  left,  throwing  his  division  into 
confusion,  from  which  it  never  recovered  until  it  reached  Rossville. 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I.  8 1 

The  rout  of  the  right  and  center  was  now  complete,  and  after  that 
fatal  break,  the  line  of  battle  was  not  again  reformed  during  the 
day.  The  army  was  in  fact  cut  in  two.  McCook,  with  Davis, 
Sheridan  and  Wilder  being  thrown  off  to  the  right ;  Crittenden,  ex- 
cept one  brigade  of  Wood's,  being  broken  in  pieces,  and  Thomas, 
with  his  indomitable  corps,  and  Johnson's  division  of  McCook's,  re- 
maining alone  upon  the  left.  But  Thomas'  corps  also  had  been 
fearfully  shaken,  and  retreat  was  now  the  only  resort.  Retiring  his 
command  accordingly,  he  took  up  a  new  position  along  the  base  of 
Missionary  Ridge,  the  line  being  so  formed  that  the  left  rested  upon 
the  Lafayette  road,  and  the  right  at  the  Gap,  representing  the  arc 
of  a  circle,  and  a  south-east  hill  about  its  center  formed  the  key  to 
the  position.  Here  were  collected  the  shattered  remnants  of  the 
powerful  corps  (not  a  fourth  ot  the  army)  which  had  so  long  breasted 
the  fierce  assaults  of  the  enemy  in  the  forenoon.  It  was  certain, 
however,  that  unless  assistance  should  speedily  reach  it  from  some 
quarter,  it  must  at  length  succumb,  for  the  enemy  emboldened  by  the 
rout  of  McCook  and  Crittenden,  was  gathering  his  hosts  to  hurl  against 
them  in  a  last  mighty  effort.  At  this  crisis  Mitchell's  and  McCook's 
brigades  of  the  reserve  corps,  under  command  of  General  Granger, 
arrived.  The  fight  now  raged  around  the  hill  with  redoubled  fury. 
General  Thomas  formed  his  troops  in  two  lines,  and  as  each  marched 
up  to  the  crest  and  fired  a  deadly  volley  at  the  advancing  foe,  it  fell 
back  a  little  way ;  the  men  lay  down  upon  the  ground  to  load,  and 
the  second  line  advanced  to  take  their  place,  and  so  on  in  succession. 
Every  attack  of  the  rebels  was  repulsed,  and  the  enemy  at  night 
fell  back  and  abandoned  the  assault.  And  thus  did  twelve  or  four- 
teen thousand  heroic  men  save  from  destruction  the  army  of  the 
Cumberland.  At  night  General  Thomas  fell  back  to  Rossville,  four 
miles  from  Chattanooga.  Our  loss  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing 
reached  twelve  thousand  ;  and  fifty  pieces  of  artillery  and  much 
material  of  war  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  The  enemy's 
loss  also  was  extremely  heavy.  Saturday's  fight  resulted  in  a  drawn 
battle ;  Sunday's  in  a  defeat,  which  was  only  saved  from  utter  disas- 
ter by  the  coolness  and  courage  of  General  Thomas  and  his  gallant 
command.  That  night  our  brigade  marched  back  to  Rossville  and 
on  Monday  night  we  marched  inside  of  the  fortifications  of  Chatta- 
nooga, and  so  ended  the  battle  of  Chickama.uga. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

On  the  i Qth  of  October,  1863,  General  Rosecrans,  in  General 
Orders,  No.  242,  turned  over  tfoe  command  of  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland,  to  Major  General  George  H.  Thomas,  by  order  of  the 
President.  He  had  commanded  us  for  nearly  one  year.  The  last 
words  in  his  farewell  address  to  the  army,  were  :  "  Companions  in 
arms,  officers  and  soldiers,  farewell,  and  may  God  bless  you."  We 
all  liked  "  Old  Rosy,"  as  we  used  to  call  him,  and  very  sorry  to 
part  with  him,  -but  we  also  knew  the  grand  qualities  of  General 
Thomas  as  a  commander,  and  we  received  him  with  open  arms. 
And  here  also  we  received  General  Order,  No.  i,  notifying  us  that 
Major  General  W.  T.  Sherman  assumed  command  of  the  Military 
Division  of  the  Mississippi,  embracing  the  Departments  of  the  Ohio, 
of  the  Cumberland  and  of  the  Tennessee.  Chattanooga  was  made 
as  near  impregnable  as  it  was  possible  to  make  it.  Three  strong 
lines  of  defence  were  constructed  and  all  the  fords  of  the  Tennessee 
river  were  closely  guarded.  But  we  were  destined  to  have  a  hard 
time  of  it.  The  army  would  have  to  be  thoroughly  reorganized,  and 
refitted.  The  brigade  to  which  we  belonged  was  ordered  up  to 
Caldwell's  Ford  on  the  Tennessee  River,  opposite  the  mouth  of  North 
Chickamauga  Creek.  There  we  remained  until  the  battle  of  Mis- 
sionary Ridge.  Still  the  army  was  in  a  critical  situation.  The  reb- 
els had  taken  position  on  Look  Out  Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge 
in  front  of  us,  and  were  doing  what  they  could  to  bombard  Chatta- 
nooga, but  the  shells  generally  fell  short ;  and  on  our  extended  and 
exposed  line  of  communication,  their  cavalry  were  making  frequent 
raids,  and  near  a  place  called  Anderson,  in  the  Sequatchie  Valley, 
they  destroyed  between  two  and  three  hundred  wagons,  about  thirty 
of  which  were  loaded  with  ammunition,  and  the  remainder  with 
clothing  and  supplies  ;  the  mules,  which  they  could  not  run  off,  were 
shot,  to  the  number  of  several  hundred. 

Our  regiment  was  now  detached,  as  it  were,  from  the  rest  of  the 


THE    I25TH    REGIMENT    I.    V.    I.  83 

brigade,  and  the  principal  duty  imposed  upon  us  was  guarding  Cald- 
well's  Ford.  But  as  all  the  supplies  for  the  army  had  to  be  hauled 
over  one  line  of  rail  road  to  Bridgeport,  and  from  there  carried  by 
pack  mules  to  Chattanooga,  and  as  the  rebel  cavalry  were  constantly 
interrupting  this  line  of  communication,  supplies  of  all  kinds  soon 
began  to  fall  very  short.  The  boys  got  irritable  and  peevish,  they 
could  stand  a  good  deal  of  hardship,  but  now  their  rations  were  cut 
short,  and  they  often  felt  hungry.  There  was  still  a  little  corn  for  the 
horses  and  mules  of  the  regiment,  but  it  had  to  be  guarded  with  an 
eagle  eye  or  it  would  disappear  very  suddenly.  The  boys  were 
hungry,  and  were  constantly  appropriating  the  forage  of  the  an- 
imals whenever  they  could  find  it.  This  matter  at  last  became  mo- 
notonous, especially  to  the  field  officers  of  the  regiment,  who  saw 
their  horses  day  by  day  assuming  architectural  proportions,  and  they 
ordered  their  colored  servants  to  guard  the  feed  more  closely.  Col- 
onel Harmon  gave  his  boy  orders  to  carry  the  feed  for  his  horse  into 
his,  the  colonel's,  tent,  and  put  it  under  his  bunk.  "  They  can't 
get  it  there,"  said  the  colonel  with  a  chuckle,  "  without  my  knowing 
it,  you  may  depend,  I  would  just  like  to  see  them  try  it,"  and  he 
rubbed  his  hands  with  glee,  thinking  that  at  last  he  had  solved  the 
problem,  and  that  the  feed  of  his  charger  would  be  secure.  In  ac- 
cordance with  his  orders  the  darkey  carried  the  corn  into  the  colon- 
el's tent,  and  carefully  piled  it  up  under  his  bunk.  The  next  morn- 
ing when  he  went  to  get  the  breakfast  for  the  horse,  what  was  his 
surprise  to  find  that  the  last  vestige  of  corn  was  gone.  Hurrying  to 
the  colonel,  with  the  whites  of  his  eyes  glistening,  and  his  face  drawn 
out  of  all  shape  with  wonder,  he  quickly  stated  the  case  :  "  Why, 
kurnel,  dar  aint  a  grain  of  dat  ar  corn  lef  fur  de  hoss,  de  las  grain 
done  stole  by  by  some  one,  sah — shah  !"  For  a  moment  the  colonel 
was  puzzled,  and  hardly  knew  what  to  say  ;  but  the  corn  was  gone 
for  a  fact,  and  it  was  useless  to  try  and  find  it,  so  turning  away  he 
carelessly  remarked :  "  I  thought  I  heard  something  fumbling 
around  under  my  bunk  last  night  when  I  went  to  bed,  but  supposed 
it  was  a  mouse."  This  circumstance  afforded  us  much  amusement. 
It  seems  that  some  fellow  who  had  overhead  the  orders  given  by  the 
colonel  to  his  servant,  had  gone  to  the  colonel's  tent  that  night,  and 
slyly  lifting  one  corner  of  it,  had  thrust  in  his  hand  and  quietly 


84  THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I. 

stolen,  right  from  under  his  bed,  the  colonel  lying  on  it  at  the  time, 
the  last  "  nubbin."  There  was  no  use  trying  to  hide  anything,  it 
would  surely  be  found  by  some  one.  But  the  boys  thought  a  good 
deal  of  the  colonel,  and  in  all  probability  had  stolen  the  corn  just  to 
show  him  that  nothing  was  sure  in  war,  for  from  this  on  they  did  not 
bother  him,  and  the  colonel's  horse  got  all  of  his  allowance. 

The  headquarters  of  the  brigade  was  a  short  distance  above  our 
camp,  and  nearly  every  day  Colonel  McCook,  or  some  of  his  staff, 
would  go  riding  past,  bound  for  Chattanooga.  They  would  not  get 
by  the  regiment,  however,  without  their  ears  being  saluted  with  such 
shouts  as  "  hard  tack,"  "sow  belly,"  give  us  our  rations,"  etc.,  etc.; 
this  annoyed  Colonel  McCook  greatly,  for  the  comfort  of  his  men 
was  always  uppermost  in  his  thoughts,  and  he  was  not  at  all  to  blame 
for  the  scarcity  of  rations.  We  knew  this,  but  out  of  a  pure  spirit 
of  deviltry  would  salute  him  every  time  he  went  by,  with  phrases 
like  these.  One  afternoon  he  came  riding  up  from  Chattanooga,  re- 
turning to  his  headquarters,  and  as  he  passed  he  was  saluted  with  a 
most  vigorous  chorus  of  "  hard  tack,"  "  sow  belly,"  etc.  Stopping 
his  horse,  aggravated  sorely,  as  he  properly  was,  and  perhaps  at  that 
very  time  thinking  of  the  condition  of  his  men,  he  shouted  back : 
"  You  may  be  glad  to  eat  rubber  blankets,  yet."  That  seemed  for  a 
moment  to  quiet  them,  but  directly  some  fellow  shouted  back  :  "  If 
we  do,  you'll  have  to  furnish  'em."  This  was  too  much,  and  the 
colonel  proceeded  on  his  way  ;  this  last  remark  of  the  boys  settled 
him.  That  Colonel  McCook  arrived  safely  at  his  headquarters,  we 
were  soon  made  aware,  by  the  receipt  of  an  order  forbidding  any 
more  such  salutations,  under  penalty  of  severe  punishment. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

Matters  and  things  moved  on  smoothly,  the  old  routine  of  guard 
duty,  dress  parade  and  all  the  regular  business  of  camp  life,  includ- 
ing half  rations,  being  faithfully  kept.  We  now  come  to  a  matter 
which  happened  while  we  were  at  the  Ford,  which  for  a  short  time 
made  things  very  lively  and  animated  in  the  camp  of  the  i25th. 
The  Tennessee  is  a  wide  stream,  and  anything  going  on  on  the  op- 
posite side,  can  not  be  seen  very  distinctly  with  the  naked  eye.  But 
to  many  of  us,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  day  to  which  we  have  ref- 
erence, could  be  seen  objects  moving  on  the  hill  side  across  the 
river.  These  objects  proved  to  be  rebels,  that  side  of  the  river  was 
in  their  possession  then,  but  what  they  were  doing  we  could  not  as- 
certain, and  so  at  Jast  we  ceased  to  pay  any  attention  to  them.  The 
day  passed  as  others  had  done,  and  when  night  came  we  retired  to 
our  beds  to  dream  of  home  and  loved  ones.  The  night  passed 
quietly,  but  just  as  the  first  streak  of  gray  appeared  in  the  east  on 
the  morning  of  Nov.  i6th,  1863,  we  were  awakened  by  the  boom 
of  cannon,  and  the  whistling  of  shells,  and  the  crashing  of  shot 
through,  around  and  above  us.  We  were  not  long  in  turning  out  of 
our  tents.  "  What  was  the  matter  ?"  "  Where  were  they  ?"  was 
asked  on  all  sides.  The  long  roll  was  beat,  and  the  voices  of  the 
officers  giving  command  resounded  through  the  camp.  The  regi- 
ment was  thrown  into  dire  confusion  and  the  majority  of  them  fol- 
lowed in  the  wake  of  the  pay-master  over  the  ridge.  We  soon 
found  out  where  the  shots  came  from.  The  objects  we  had  seen 
the  day  before  across  the  river  had  been  rebels  engaged  in  putting  a 
battery  in  position  in  order  to  shell  our  camp,  and  as  soon  as  day- 
light came,  they  opened  up  the  entertainment.  And  a  beautiful 
mark  they  had  to  shoot  at,  as  the  regiment  lay  on  ground  sloping  to 
the  river  and  nothing  intervened  between  us  and  them  but  the  broad 
bosom  of  the  Tennessee.  The  pay-master  and  his  clerk  were  with 
us  at  the  time,  and  in  his  wake  had  come  Charley  Pratt,  our  sutler, 
to  collect  from  the  boys  sundry  bills  they  were  owing  him.  These 


86  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 

gentlemen,  of  course,  were  non-combatants,  and  as  soon  as  they 
could,  conveniently,  took  to  flight  over  the  ridge  in  our  rear,  where 
they  took  position,  resolved,  as  they  afterward  said,  to  hold  their 
ground  at  all  hazards.  But  as  regarded  their  toilet  they  were  sadly 
deficient,  and  as  they  disappeared  over  the  ridge,  their  shirt  tails 
were  fluttering  in  the  breeze,  looking  in  the  distance  like  flags  of 
truce.  The  whole  affair  lasted  but  a  few  moments,  our  third  Wis- 
consin battery  opened  on  the  rebels  and  at  the  third  round  drove 
them  away,  having  blown  up  a  caisson  for  them  as  we  could  plainly 
see  by  the  smoke. 

There  were  many  narrow  escapes  with  us;  one  solid  shot  found 
a  resting  place  in  one  of  the  boy's  bunks,  and  others  went  crashing 
through  the  tents,  but  without  doing  any  more  damage  than  tearing 
them  to  pieces.  But  we  were  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  one 
of  our  number,  the  chaplain.  As  was  evident,  he  had  arisen  from 
his  bed  and  was  in  the  act  of  tieing  his  shoe,  when  a  solid  shot 
came  crashing  through  his  tent,  tearing  off  half  ^f  his  head,  killing 
him  instantly.  This  sad  event  cast  a  deep  gloom  over  the  regimeut. 
Chaplain  Saunders  was  a  good  man,  and  was  respected  by  all  the 
boys,  a  quiet  unassuming  gentleman.  He  had  won  our  respect  and 
confidence,  and  we  mourned  his  death.  We  sent  his  body  north 
for  burial,  feeling  that  we  had  lost  a  good  man.  And  such  is  the 
fate  of  war.  Sitting  here  at  home  in  peace  and  security,  with  my 
little  baby  girl  playing  by  my  side,  and  watching  me  as  I  write,  ask- 
ing me  questions  and  striving  in  her  childish  way  to  attract  my  at- 
tention, my  mind  wanders  back  to  the  banks  of  the  Tennessee. 
And  as  memory  brings  up  the  recollection  of  those  times,  and  the 
events  which  followed,  of  the  brave  boys  whom  we  used  to  meet, 
and  with  them  hold  daily  converse,  now  sleeping  in  their  southern 
graves  beneath  the  soughing  of  the  pines,  the  tears  came  to  our  eyes 
and  we  throw  down  the  pen,  we  can  write  no  more  to-day. 

We  were  not  much  longer  to  enjoy  this  otium  cum  dignitate^  how- 
ever. The  iron  was  in  the  furnace,  and  would  soon  be  ready  for 
the  stroke  of  the  general's  hammer.  The  enemy  at  this  time,  as 
we  have  before  said,  were  posted  on  the  heights  of  Missionary  Ridge 
and  Lookout  Mountain.  Their  cavalry  was  swarming  in  our  rear 
and  on  our  flanks,  and  our  army  represented  a  giant,  resting  from 


THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.   V.    I.  87 

his  labors,  but  to  rise  at  last  and  with  the  stroke  of  a  thunderbolt 
scatter  his  enemies  like  chaff.  And  now  we  come  to  the  battle  of 
Missionary  Ridge.  On  the  night  of  the  23rd  of  November,  Sher- 
man, with  three  divisions  of  his  army,  which  had  arrived  at  Chatta- 
nooga on  the  1 5th  of  November,  from  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  strength- 
ened by  Davis'  division  of  Palmer's  corps,  of  which  division  we 
now  formed  a  part,  and  which  had  been  stationed  along  the  north 
bank  of  the  Tennessee,  convenient  to  where  the  crossing  was  to  be 
effected,  was  ready  for  operations.  At  an  hour  sufficiently  early  to 
secure  the  south  bank  of  the  river,  just  below  the  mouth  of  South 
Chickamauga  Creek,  by  dawn  of  day,  the  pontoons  in  the  North 
Chickamauga,  which  our  brigade  had  been  guarding,  were  loaded 
with  thirty  armed  men  each,  who  floated  quietly  past  the  enemy's 
pickets,  landed  and  captured  all  but  one  of  the  guard,  twenty  in 
number,  before  the  enemy  was  aware  of  the  presence  of  a  foe.  The 
steamboat  "  Dunbar,"  with  a  barge  in  tow,  after  having  finished 
ferrying  across  the  river  the  horses  procured  from  Sherman,  with 
which  to  move  Thomas'  artillery,  was  sent  up  from  Chattanooga  to 
aid  in  crossing  artillery  and  troops,  and  by  day  light  of  the  morning 
of  the  24th  of  November,  eight  thousand  men  were  on  the  south 
side  of  the  Tennessee  and  fortified  in  rifle  trenches.  This  move- 
ment, so  admirably  executed,  put  the  whole  of  Sherman's  army  in 
position  for  the  great  battle  that  was  now  to  begin. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

We  will  not  undertake  to  follow  every  movement  of  the  army 
made  to  capture  the  heights  of  Missionary  ridge,  as  it  would  be,  per- 
haps, uninteresting  to  the  reader,  and  out  of  place  here,  but  will 
pass  on  to  the  morning  of  the  251!").  So  far  every  thing  had  gone 
well  with  the  union  army.  Every  movement  had  been  successful. 
Suddenly  from  a  point  overlooking  the  field  of  battle,  known  as 
Orchard  Knob,  and  on  which  army  headquarters  had  been  establish- 
ed, rang  out  the  signal  ordering  an  advance  of  our  entire  front.  The 
line  moved  rapidly  and  orderly.  The  rebel  pickets  discharged  their 
muskets,  and  ran  into  their  rifle  pits,  much  resembling  the  ground 
squirrel,  when  alarmed  he  seeks  his  den.  Our  skirmishers  followed 
closely  on  their  heels.  The  line  of  battle  was  not  far  behind,  and 
the  gray  rebels  were  seen  to  swarm  out  of  their  rifle  pits  in  surpris- 
ing numbers,  and  over  the  crest  of  the  hill.  A  few  turned  and  fired 
their  pieces,  but  the  greater  number  collected  into  the  many  roads 
which  cross  obliquely  up  its  steep  face,  like  cattle  trails,  and  went  to 
the  top.  Our  lines  pressed  on  and  up  the  steep  sides  of  the  ridge, 
and  here  and  there  a  color  was  advanced  beyond  the  lines.  The  at- 
tempt appeared  most  dangerous,  but  the  advance  was  supported, 
and  the  whole  line  was  ordered  to  storm  the  heights,  upon  which  not 
less  than  forty  pieces  of  artillery,  and  no  one  knows  how  many  mus- 
kets, stood  ready  to  slaughter  the  assailants.  With  cheers  answering 
to  cheers,  the  men  swarmed  upward.  They  gathered  to  the  points 
least  difficult  of  ascent,  and  the  line  was  broken.  Color  after  color 
was  planted  on  the  summit,  while  musket  and  cannon  vomited  their 
thunder  upon  them.  A  well  directed  shot  from  Orchard  Knob,  ex- 
ploded a  rebel  caisson  on  the  summit,  and  the  gun  was  seen  gallop- 
ing to  the  right,  its  driver  lashing  his  horses.  A  party  of  our  soldiers 
intercepted  them,  and  the  gun  was  captured  with  cheers.  A  fierce 
musketry  fire  broke  out  to  the  left,  where  between  Thomas  and 
Davis  a  mile  or  two  of  the  ridge  was  still  occupied  by  the  rebels. 


TTIE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V,   I.  89 

Bragg  left  the  house  in  which  he  had  held  his  headquarters,  and  rode 
to  the  rear  as  our  troops  crowded  the  hill  on  either  side  of  him- 
General  Sherman  proceeded  to  the  summit,  and  then  only  did  he 
know  its  height.  Some  of  the  captured  artillery  was  put  in  posi- 
tion. Artillerists  were  sent  for  to  work  the  guns.  Caissons  were 
searched  for  ammunition.  The  rebel  log  breast-works  were  torn  to 
pieces,  and  carried  to  the  other  side  of  the  ridge  and  used  in  form- 
ing barricades.  A  strong  line  of  infantry  was  formed  in  the  rear  of 
Baird's  line,  hotly  engaged  in  a  musketry  contest  with  the  rebels  to 
the  left,  and  a  secure  lodgment  was  soon  effected.  The  other  as- 
sault to  the  right  of  our  centre  gained  the  summit,  and  the  rebels 
threw  down  their  arms  and  fled.  Bragg's  remaining  troops  left  early 
in  the  night,  and  the  battle  of  Chattanooga,  after  days  of  maneu- 
vering and  fighting,  was  won.  And  now  commenced  a  movement 
in  which  our  brigade  took  a  part  that  called  forth  our  strongest  ef- 
forts to  endure.  Major  General  Burnside,  with  his  command,  was 
holding  the  city  of  Knoxville  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  state.  This 
part  of  Tennessee  was  intensely  loyal  to  the  old  flag,  and  it  was  the 
intention  of  Burnside  to  hold  his  position,  cost  what  it  might.  Knox- 
ville is  guarded  on  the  south  by  the  Holston  river,  and  on  the  west 
side  by  a  range  of  hills,  so  that  Longstreet  had  tried  to  reach  it  from 
the  east  and  north.  Here  the  place  had  been  fortified  as  well  as  the 
short  time  would  permit,  but  Longstreet  had  Burnside  surrounded, 
and  if  relief  did  not  shortly  arrive  he  must  surrender  to  the  rebels. 
Information  reached  us  on  the  ayth  of  November,  that  General 
Burnside  was  completely  invested,  and  had  provisions  only  to  include 
the  third  of  December.  Seven  days  before,  we  had  left  camp  on 
the  north  side  of  the  Tennessee,  with  two  days  rations,  without  a 
change  of  clothing,  stripped  for  the  fight,  with  but  a  single  blanket 
or  coat  per  man,  from  the  general  down  to  the  private.  We  had  no 
provisions,  only  what  we  could  gather  as  we  went  along,  and  were  ill 
supplied  for  such  a  march.  But  intelligence  that  twelve  thousand  of 
our  fellow  soldiers  were  beseiged  in  the  mountain  town  of  Knoxville, 
eighty-four  miles  distant,  had  reached  us.  This  was  enough,  they 
must  be  relieved,  and  away  we  went  to  their  aid.  It  was  a  terrible 
march  and  we  made  it  in  six  days.  But  before  our  arrival  Long- 
street  had  raised  the  seige  and  departed,  with  Burnside's  troops  in 

12 


gO  THE    I25TH    REGIMENT    I.    V.    I. 

pursuit.  General  Granger  moved  into  the  city  with  his  troops,  and 
we  returned  to  our  old  camp  on  Chicamauga  Creek,  foot  sore  and 
weary,  our  clothes  torn  almost  into  shreds,  and  our  shoe  soles  entire- 
ly gone,  but  we  had  marched  for  a  big  stake  and  had  won.  We  re- 
mained in  camp  resting,  and  receiving  supplies  and  clothing,  and  on 
the  seventh  of  May,  moved  with  the  rest  of  the  army  on  the  road  to 
Atlanta.  The  rebel  army  at  this  time  lay  in  and  about  Dalton,  and 
were  superior  to  our  army  in  cavalry,  and  with  three  corps  of  infan- 
try and  artillery,  the  whole  commanded  by  General  Joseph  E.  John- 
ston, making  a  grand  total  of  infantry,  cavalry  and  artillery  of  about 
60,000  men.  Now  commenced  a  campaign,  which  for  fighting,  stub- 
born resistance  and  manoeuvering,  can  not  be  equalled  in  any  histo- 
ry. It  was  on  the  seventh  of  May  that  we  left  Chattanooga,  and 
not  until  the  seventh  of  the  following  September,  five  months  in  all, 
did  we  rest  from  our  labors.  We  will  not  attempt  to  relate  each  and 
every  battle  that  was  fought,  for  we  cannot  do  that ;  it  was  con- 
tinual battle  from  the  time  we  left  our  fortifications  near  Chattanoo- 
ga, until  we  arrived  at  Atlanta,  so  we  will  journey  on,  merely  men- 
tioning places  at  which  some  event  took  place  that  bore  particularly 
on  the  conduct  of  the  regiment. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

On  the  24th  day  of  June,  General  Sherman  ordered  that  an  as- 
sault should  be  made  at  two  points  south  of  Kenesaw  Mountain,  on 
the  2yth,  giving  three  days  notice  for  preparation  and  reconnoisance. 
Our  division  constituted  the  assaulting  party  on  the  centre.  On  the 
night  of  the  26th,  a  council  of  war  was  held  at  corps  head-quarters, 
and  the  final  orders  for  the  assault  on  the  following  day  were  given. 
The  orders  to  regimental  commanders  were  :  for  the  regiments  to 
"load  and  cap,"  but  not  to  discharge  a  gun  until  they  had  reached 
the  rebel  breast  works,  then,  as  they  went  over  them  with  a  yell,  to 
fire  their  pieces,  and  finish  the  work  with  the  bayonet.  These  orders 
were  given  by  the  colonels  of  the  regiments  to  the  line  officers,  and 
through  them  transmitted  to  the  non-commissioned  officers  and  pri- 
vates. The  morning  of  the  27th  broke  clear  and  cloudless,  and  at 
daybreak  the  regiments  moved  to  the  assault,  leaving  all  their  camp 
equipments  behind  them,  with  a  sufficient  guard  for  their  protection. 
We  moved  out  to  the  summit  of  a  hill,  here  the  brigade  and  regi- 
mental commanders  dismounted,  leaving  their  horses  in  care  of  their 
orderlies.  Down  the  slope  we  went  until  we  reached  a  jack  oak 
grove  at  the  foot,  where  we  formed  our  line  of  battle.  At  the  far 
edge  of  this  bunch  of  oaks  was  a  wheat  field,  and  on  the  other  side 
of  this  field  stretched  the  line  of  rebel  breast  works.  Our  line  of 
battle  was  soon  formed,  and  there  we  stood  waiting  for  the  signal  to 
advance.  At  last  off  to  our  left  a  cannon  belched  forth  its  thunder, 
and  as  its  echoes  came  rolling  down  the  line,  each  man  grasped  his 
rifle  with  a  tighter  grip.  Colonel  McCook  at  the  head  of  the  brig- 
ade waved  his  sword  and  gave  the  command :  "  Attention  battalions, 
charge  bayonets,"  and  with  a  rush  and  a  cheer  away  we  go.  And 
now  the  battle  commences.  We  have  reached  the  wheat  field,  and 
at  yon  side  are  the  rebel  breast  works.  At  the  double  quick  we 
cross  the  field  with  a  storm  of  lead  and  iron  in  our  faces  ;  men  are 
falling  on  all  sides ;  there  goes  McCook  down — quickly  following 


92  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I. 

him,  Harmon,  who  was  bravely  urging  his  men  on,  falls  pierced 
through  the  heart.  Captain  Fellows,  our  brigade  inspector,  also  falls 
to  rise  no  more.  See  !  the  colors  have  disappeared,  but  only  for  a 
moment  when  again  they  wave ;  the  color  sergeant  had  been  shot 
down.  Lieutenant  McOean,  of  Co  "  B,"  is  hit  and  falls,  so,  also, 
sergeant  Cunningham,  and  Captain  Clark,  of  Co.  ''  E."  They  are 
dropping  as  the  leaves  in  the  autumn,  and  oh  !  how  that  fire  of  hell 
beats  in  our  faces.  It  is  too  much,  the  works  cannot  be  carried  by 
assault,  and  our  line,  mangled,  torn  and  bleeding,  falls  back.  But 
only  for  a  short  distance,  however,  when  we  again  halt  amid  that 
never  ceasing  fire.  Some  of  the  boys  engage  the  foe,  while  others, 
with  tin  cups  and  bayonets,  burrow  and  dig  in  the  ground  to  throw 
up  protection  for  themselves.  We  are  not  whipped,  if  we  have  fail- 
ed in  our  attempt,  and  thirty-five  paces  only  is  what  we  will  yield  to 
the  rebels.  Still  the  bullets,  and  the  shells,  and  the  solid  shot  fly? 
and  still  more  brave  boys  are  sealing  with  their  life's  blood  their  de- 
votion to  their  country's  flag.  But  why  prolong  the  tale,  the  ground 
is  soaked  with  blood  ;  but  with  that  love  for  the  old  flag  which  has 
floated  so  gallantly  at  our  head  over  so  many  bloody  fields,  and  un- 
der whose  stars  and  stripes  the  weary  and  oppressed  of  every  land 
have  found  a  shelter,  under  whose  protecting  folds  we  have  lived  in 
peace  and  security,  until  driven  by  its  enemies  to  war ;  with  that  love 
kindling  in  our  breasts  we  stand  ready  to  die,  if  need  be,  but  never 
to  dishonor  its  beauty  and  its  grandeur. 

The  long  day  at  last  draws  to  a  close,  and  night,  welcome  night, 
settles  down  upon  us.  To  the  weary  and  worn  soldiers,  night 
brought  no  repose,  but  like  beavers  we  worked  erecting  breastworks 
to  protect  us  on  the  morrow.  The  battle  for  the  day  is  over.  The 
cries  of  the  wounded,  and  the  desultory  shot  of  a  rifle,  is  all  that  is 
heard  beyond  the  noise  made  by  the  soldiers  in  erecting  their  breast 
works.  But  there  were  deeds  of  heroism  enacted  on  Kenesaw's 
rugged  brow  that  day  that  have  never  been  excelled  on  any  battle 
field.  Private  James  Knox,  of  Co.  "  B,"  had  his  thumb  shot  off 
early  in  the  engagement,  but  refusing  to  go  to  the  rear,  pressed  for- 
ward until  a  rebel  ball  felled  him  to  the  ground  ;  rising  on  his  hands 
and  knees,  for  he  could  not  walk,  he  turned  his  face  to  the  enemy, 
and  in  that  position  crawled  off  the  field,  declaring  he  would  never 


THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I.  93 

turn  his  back  to  the  foe.  2nd  Lieut.  James  McLean,  also  of  Co, 
"  B,"  was  hit  early  in  the  fight,  but  pressed  on  in  command  of  his 
company,  until  a  ball,  passing  through  his  body,  felled  him  to  the 
ground.  All  night  long  we  worked,  and  when  the  morning  broke 
we  felt  secure,  and  were  ready  to  renew  the  combat.  But  between 
our  line  and  the  rebels,  lay  our  dead  and  some  of  our  wounded. 
The  lines  were  so  close  together,  that  stones  were  thrown  by  the  reb- 
els, severely  wounding  some  of  our  men.  Morning  broke  and  re- 
vealed to  the  foe  what  we  had  done  during  the  night.  Firing  at  once 
commenced  and  was  kept  up  all  day.  The  stubble  and  leaves  be- 
tween the  lines  had  taken  fire,  and  that  with  the  smoke  from  the 
guns,  was  making  our  situation  very  unpleasant.  The  dead,  too 
were  fast  decaying,  under  the  burning  rays  of  that  Georgia  sun,  and 
the  most  horrid  stench  filled  the  air.  It  was  becoming  unbearable, 
so  Colonel  Langley,  who  had,  until  the  death  of  Harmon,  been 
serving  on  the  corps  staff,  but  was  now  in  command  of  his  regiment, 
concluded  to  see  if  an  armistice  could  be  arranged  in  order  to  give 
us  an  opportunity  to  bury  the  dead,  but  not  a  white  handkerchief, 
or  white  rag  of  any  description,  could  be  found  ;  so  raising  a  copy 
of  the  "  Chicago  Tribune,"  which  he  had  in  his  pocket,  he  succeed- 
ed in  his  purpose,  and  an  armistice  of  two  hours  was  agreed  upon, 
and  the  men  poured  over  both  of  the  lines  of  works.  You  would 
not  think  as  you  see  them  now,  as  they  shake  hands,  and  swap  cof- 
fee for  tobacco,  and  laugh  and  joke  together  like  old  friends,  that  a 
few  moments  before  they  had  been  seeking  each  others  lives.  But 
they  are  gathering  up  the  dead  ;  here  comes  a  stretcher  borne  by  two 
men,  on  it  lays  the  body  of  Captain  W.  W.  Fellows,  once  the  com- 
manding officer  of  Co.  "  C,"  but  acting  for  some  time  previously  as 
brigade  inspector.  Silently  we  follow  after  them.  How  we  loved 
that  man  !  an  entire  stranger  to  the  writer  a  few  short  months  pre- 
vious, he  had  by  the  subtle  magic  of  his  nature  charmed  us.  He 
was  not  only  a  brave  officer,  but  a  polished  gentleman,  always  wil- 
ling to  help  the  needy,  and  always  ready  at  the  call  of  duty.  Capt. 
Fellow's  death,  that  bloody  day  at  Kenesaw,  was  deeply  mourned  by 
us.  We  felt  as  if  we  had  lost  a  near  and  dear  friend  ;  always  with 
a  kindly  smile  of  greeting  when  we  met,  never,  like  so  many  others, 
defiling  his  mouth  and  disgracing  his  manhood  by  uttering  vile  oaths 


94  THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 

and  blasphemies.  We  saw  him  on  the  morning  of  the  assault  be- 
fore we  moved  from  camp,  and  stopped  for  a  moment  to  exchange 
greetings,  little  did  we  think  for  the  last  time.  We  buried  him  on 
the  hill  side  where  the  first  rays  of  Georgia's  sun  should  shine  upon 
his  grave  ;  and  the  wild  flowers  bloom  above  him ,  and  the  southern 
songster  warble  a  requiem  for  the  soldier  from  the  Northland.  Here, 
also,  was  buried  Captain  Marion  Lee,  and  some  others  who  had  fall- 
en in  the  strife.  Requeiscat  in  pvce.  Leaving  the  burial  party  to 
end  their  labors,  we  proceed  up  the  road  to  find  if  possible  our  field 
hospital,  where  so  many  of  our  boys  lie  wounded.  The  road  is 
flanked  on  either  side  by  thick  brush  ;  going  along  we  happened  to 
look  to  our  right,  and  see  a  sight  that  makes  our  blood  stand  still,  so 
unexpected,  and  so  awful  is  it.  There,  in  that  clump  of  hazel,  lays 
the  body  of  our  colonel,  where  he  had  been  carried  directly  after  he 
fell.  A  sickening  feeling  creeps  over  us  as  we  stand  in  the  presence 
of  the  dead,  whom  we  had  seen  such  a  short  time  before  in  ^ull 
health  and  vigor.  Yes,  there  he  lay,  his  life  ended,  his  heart's  blood 
given  for  his  country's  good.  Colonel  Harmon  was  a  Christian  man; 
what  more  can  we  say  ?  A  strict  disciplinarian,  he  had  the  solicitude 
of  a  father  for  his  regiment,  and  he  wanted  his  men  to  feel  that  in 
him  they  had  a  friend  who  would  look  after  their  welfare.  With  one 
sad,  lingering  look,  we  tore  ourself  from  the  spot,  with  our  heart 
stirred  with  deep  emotion.  But  yonder  is  the  hospital  tent.  The 
weather,  as  we  have  before  stated,  was  intensely  warm,  and  the  hos- 
pital tents,  or  rather  i(  flys,"  were  stretched  in  such  a  manner  that 
their  sides  were  raised  some  two  feet  from  the  ground,  thus  giving  a 
thorough  circulation  of  air.  We  enter;  there  lay  our  poor  fellows, 
and  as  they  see  us  they  shout  out  a  welcome.  These  fellows  near 
the  entrance,  are  not  so  badly  wounded  as  those  farther  on,  so,  re- 
turning their  greeting  with  an  assumed  show  of  glee,  we  pass  into 
the  tent.  And  now  we  are  in  the  midst  of  desperately  wounded 
boys  who  are  lying  here,  some  of  them,  without  a  vestige  of  cloth- 
ing on  them  on  account  of  the  heat,  slowly  dying.  We  feel  sorry 
that  we  have  come  to  the  hospital,  but  the  wish  to  do  something  in 
some  way  to  help  the  poor  lads,  is  uppermost  in  our  thoughts.  Here 
is  znd  Lieut.  James  McClain,  with  his  negro  servant  ( faithful  fel- 
low )  sitting  by  him,  fanning  him.  We  kneel  down  by  the  lieuten- 


THE     I25TH    REGIMENT    I.    V.    I.  95 

ant.  We  had  been  old  acquaintances  before  we  left  home,  conse- 
quently no  undue  stiffness  of  official  ceremony  could  come  between 
us.  Poor  Jim.  he  was  drawing  his  breath  in  gasps  ;  we  saw  that 
death  had  set  his  seal  upon  his  brow,  and  with  a  sorrow  at  our  heart 
that  we  believe  was  the  deepest  we  ever  felt,  we  said  : 

"Jimmy,  is  there  anything  we  can  do  for  you  ?"  Opening  his 
eyes,  at  the  sound  of  our  voice,  and  reaching  out  his  hand,  he  ex- 
claimed : 

"  Oh,  Bob  !  I  am  so  glad  to  see  you." 

But  our  emotions  overcame  us,  and  in  spite  of  all  we  could  do. 
the  tears  would  come.  But  we  checked  them  as  soon  as  possible 
and  again  repeated  our  question.  Opening  his  eyes  with  his  breath 
coming  in  convulsive  gasps,  he  said  : 

*'  Bob — write — to — my — mother, — tell  her, — that  I  died — doing 
my  duty." 

Oh  !  if  we  could  have  had  at  that  moment  a  heart  of  stone,  so 
that  we  could  have  talked  to  him,  but  it  was  too  much  :  however 
we  managed  to  whisper  to  him  a  hope  that  he  might  get  well,  but 
no,  he  knew  better,  he  knew  that  his  life  was  fast  drawing  to  a  close, 
and  moving  his  head  slowly,  he  replied : 

"  No,  Bob,  I  am  dying." 

We  could  not  stand  it  and  gently  stooping  over  him,  we  kissed 
him  on  the  forehead,  and  turned  to  the  next  man  lying  beside  him, 
who  proved  to  be  orderly  sergeant  Benjamin  F.  Bonebrake.  Ben 
presented  a  terrible  appearance,  he  had  been  wounded  in  the  head, 
and  the  blood  had  streamed  down  over  his  face  and  whiskers  and 
over  his  once  white  shirt  bosom,  and  dried  there,  giving  him  a 
ghastly  appearance. 

"  Do  you  want  anything,  Ben  ?" 

"  Yes.  I  would  like  to  have  my  face  washed." 

Oh  !  how  quiet  and  gentle  these  poor  boys  were,  no  complaining, 
no  harsh  words,  but  there  they  lay,  bearing  their  pain  with  true  hero- 
ism. "  All  right,"  we  reply,  glad  to  be  able  to  get  outside  for  a 
moment,  and  away  we  went  to  the  brigade  hospital  steward,  with 
whom  we  were  acquainted,  for  what  we  needed.  We  found  him 
and  on  the  strength  of  acquaintanceship,  procured  from  him  a  hos- 
pital bucket  with  some  warm  water  and  a  sponge,  and  before  we 


96  THE   I  25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 

left  him  we  had  coaxed  him  to  give  us  a  clean  shirt  for  Ben  out  of 
the  sanitary  supplies  he  had  on  hand.  Rejoicing  at  our  success,  we 
hastened  back,  and  proceeded  to  make  Ben  more  comfortable  ;  we 
washed  his  face,  combed  his  hair  and  whiskers,  and  helped  him  on 
with  the  clean  shirt.  With  a  grateful  acknowledgement  he  lay  back 
i»  his  place.  Next  to  him  was  sergeant  Wash.  Cunningham,  good 
natured,  free  hearted  Wash.:  a  man  of  large  and  powerful  frame,  he 
had  received  a  rifle  ball  through  the  left  arm ;  poor  fellow  he  had 
gotten  down  in  such  a  shape,  that  his  wound  was  paining  him,  and 
in  reply  to  our  question  as  to  what  we  could  do  for  him,  he  said: 
"  Nothing,  only  if  you  could  help  me  to  raise  up  a  little."  We  look- 
ed at  his  massive  form  and  felt  afraid  to  touch  him,  for  fear  of  giv- 
ing him  pain  ;  we  told  him  so,  and  he  replied  :  "  All  right,  Rob,  I 
can  stand  it."  We  wanted  to  get  away,  we  were  feeling  sick  and 
were  afraid  to  stay  longer,  but  there  was  one  more  boy  whom  we 
must  find  before  we  went,  and  this  was  Patrick  Sullivan  of  Co.  "G." 
We  searched  and  searched  and  at  length  we  found  him,  lying  on 
his  back,  on  his  rubber  blanket  without  a  stitch  of  clothing  on  him; 
he  was  lying  in  a  pool  of  his  own  blood,  with  his  eyes  closed,  and 
his  face  pale  and  bloodless ;  we  thought  at  first  he  was  dead,  but 
kneeling  down  by  him,  we  spoke  his  name.  The  heavy  eyelids  open- 
ed, and  with  a  smile  on  his  countenance,  he  reached  us  his  hand, 
we  grasped  it  and  put  the  question  : 

"  Can  we  do  any  thing  for  you,  Patsey  ?"  For  a  second  there  was 
no  reply,  and  then  his  lips  opened  and  he  said: 

"Oh  !  Rob,  if  I  could  only  sleep;  I  want  to  sleep  but  can't,  the 
doctor  won't  pay  any  attention  to  me,  and  there  is  such  a  noise." 

He  was  a  little  delirious,  and  the  roar  of  the  cannon  and  the 
musketry  was  still  in  his  ears.  But  unlossing  his  hand  we  started 
out  to  find  the  surgeon.  We  ran  across  him  and  told  him  what  we 
wanted,  that  one  of  the  boys  had  been  overlooked,  and  needed  help, 
would  he  not  come  to  him  ;  this  with  an  impassioned  force.  He 
would  come,  he  replied,  as  soon  as  he  could,  but  his  hands  were  full. 
"No,  doctor,"  we  pleaded,  "  come  now,  come  now,"  and  catching 
hold  of  his  coat  we  would  not  let  him  go.  Dr.  Hooten,  our  brigade 
surgeon,  was  a  man  of  tender  heart,  and  he  saw  we  were  terribly  in 
earnest.  "  Where  is  the  boy,"  he  said.  We  quickly  turned  and 


THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I.  97 

conducted  him  to  Patsey's  side.  Bending  over  him  he  examined 
him ;  he  had  been  shot  through  the  lungs.  Getting  up  he  motioned 
for  us  to  follow.  "  Go  to  the  steward,"  he  said,  "  and  tell  him  to 
mix  you  some  morphine  and  whisky,"  telling  me  the  right  amount  of 
each.  I  hurriedly  left  him  and  was  soon  returning  with  the  medicine. 
Reaching  his  side  I  knelt  down  and  told  him  to  open  his  mouth.  In- 
serting the  tube  of  the  hospital  tin  between  his  teeth,  I  gently  pour- 
ed the  medicine  down  his  throat,  but  it  had  no  sooner  touched  his 
stomach  than  he  vomited  it  up.  I  repeated  the  dose  and  had  the 
satisfaction  at  last  of  seeing  him  retain  it.  Drying  up  the  blood  and 
wet  in  which  he  was  laying  with  some  old  rags,  we  left  him  with  the 
assurance  that  he  would  soon  be  sleeping.  Having  been  away  now 
from  our  command  for  a  long  time,  we  felt  we  must  hurry  back, 
however  much  we  felt  disposed  to  stay  and  do  what  we  could  for 
our  boys,  so  going  outside  of  the  fly,  we  started  back  to  the  com- 
mand. But  our  mind  was  torn  and  rent  with  sad  feelings.  Yonder 
under  that  hospital  fly,  lay  boys  whom  we  tenderly  loved,  wounded 
and  helpless,  breathing,  slowly  breathing  their  lives  away,  while  oth- 
ers suffering  pain  almost  unbearable,  lay  with  teeth  clenched,  and 
knitted  brows,  suffering  on  in  silence.  As  we  slowly  walked  along 
how  we  strove  for  the  mastery  of  our  feelings,  but  we  could  not  help 
it,  and  in  spite  of  all  we  could  do,  we  cried  like  a  child.  Sitting 
down  by  a  tree  until  we  had  partially  overcome  our  sorrow,  we  arose 
and  again  started  for  the  company,  while  ringing  in  our  ears  were 
the  words  :  "  Vengence  is  mine  I  will  repay,  saith  the  Lord."  How 
the  memory  of  those  days  come  surging  back  upon  us  as  we  sit  at 
home  penning  these  lines.  The  scene  is  as  fresh  in  our  memory  as 
if  it  had  happened  only  yesterday,  and  the  events  of  those  times 
comes  sweeping  over  us  like  a  flood.  But  the  boys  we  loved  so  well, 
our  neighbor  lads  at  home,  have  long  ere  this  mouldered  into  dust  in 
their  southern  graves,  can  we  doubt  for  a  moment  that  their  souls 
are  happy  ?  that  they  are  now  singing  the  happy  songs  of  angels 
around  the  great  white  throne  on  high  ?  No  !  No  !  doubt  cannot  en- 
ter, and  so  we  feel  that  they  are  better  off  than  we.  All  glory  to 
their  memories.  And  such  is  the  tale  of  the  assault  on  the  rebel 
lines  in  front  of  Kenesaw.  How  many  homes  it  darkened  by  the 
shadow  it  cast  upon  their  firesides.  The  27th  day  of  June,  1864, 
will  long  be  remembered  by  many  families  in  Champaign  and  Ver- 
milion counties. 


CHAPTER   XXIV. 

The  assault  on  Kenesaw,  as  far  as  capturing  the  enemy's  works 
were  concerned,  was  a  failure  ;  but  this  did  not  prove,  by  any  means, 
that  we  were  whipped.  So  on  the  next  day  it  was  determined  to  ad- 
vance the  line  held  by  our  brigade,  which  was  formed  in  close  col- 
umn by  regiments,  the  125111  being  in  the  front  line.  The  move- 
ment was  made  in  order  to  mine  the  works  of  the  enemy.  As  the  dis- 
tance was  not  more  than  two  "hundred  feet,  it  was  an  extremely  haz- 
ardous undertaking,  but  as  yankee  ingenuity  cannot  be  balked,  Col. 
Langley  devised  a  plan,  the  like  of  which  was  never  seen  before 
during  the  war,  and  completely  casts  in  the  shade  all  engineering  ex- 
ploits on  record.  The  colonel  and  one  man,  corporal  Joseph  Frank- 
enburg,  of  Co.  "  E,"  who  volunteered  for  the  undertaking,  crawled 
from  our  line  to  a  tree  some  twenty  yards  in  advance,  and  behind  it 
commenced  digging  a  small  pit.  After  digging  enough  earth  to  give 
protection,  an  empty  cracker  box  was  dragged  up  from  our  lines  by 
means  of  a  rope,  arid  filled  with  earth,  this  was  placed  in  front  of  the 
pit,  and  after  digging  a  little  more,  another  cracker  box  was  brought 
along,  filled,  and  placed  in  juxtaposition.  This  was  continued  with 
success,  until  finally  the  whole  regiment  advanced  the  twenty  yards, 
and  were  safely  ensconced  behind  the  cracker  box  fortification.  Mine- 
ing  at  once  commenced  under  the  colonel's  direction,  but  the  evac- 
uation of  the  rebels  rendered  it  useless  to  proceed  with  the  work  to 
its  completion.  It  was  the  intention  to  mine  under  the  rebel  breast 
works,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  4th  of  July,  to  usher  in  the  day 
by  one  of  the  grandest  pyrotechnic  displays  that  had  ever  occurred 
in  those  parts,  which  would  strike  terror  and  dismay  to  the  hearts  of 
the  rebels,  and  would  undoubtedly  have  been,  for  some  of  their  number, 
the  last  4th  of  July  celebration  they  would  ever  have  honored  with 
their  presence.  But  the  "  Johnnies  "  found  out  the  scheme,  and  evac- 
uated the  works.  Prisoners  stated  that  they  suspected  something 
of  the  sort  was  going  on,  so  placing  a  drum  on  the  ground,  and  on 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I.  99 

its  head  some  small  pieces  of  gravel,  the  digging  of  our  boys  caused 
the  head  of  the  drum  to  vibrate,  and  make  the  gravel  move.  This 
scheme  frustrated  our  designs,  but  the  wonder  of  many  of  us  was, 
where  they  learned  enough  of  philosophy  to  induce  them  to  make 
the  experiment.  One  rebel  stated  that  he  was  stationed  where  "  the 
mine  would  have  blown  him  to  h — 11  if  we'uns  hadn't  left." 

Pending  the  armistice  to  bury  the  dead  between  the  lines,  the 
rebel  army  was  represented  by  Colonel  Rice  of  the  28th  Tennessee, 
our  side  by  Colonel  Langley.  Colonel  Rice  was  very  anxious  that 
the  arms  and  accoutrements  of  our  soldiers  who  fell  at  the  rebel 
breast  works,  should  be  given  over  to  them,  but  to  this  Col.  Langley 
objected,  and  proposed  that  they  should  be  regarded  as  neutral  prop- 
erty, and  not  touched  by  either  party  until  one  or  the  other  should 
occupy  the  ground.  To  this  Colonel  Rice  reluctantly  consented, 
knowing  that  if  he  did  not  it  would  be  equivalent  to  saying  that  the 
rebels  were  not  going  to  hold  their  position.  The  upshot  of  the 
matter  was  just  as  Colonel  Langley  expected,  the  rebels  evacuated, 
and  we  got  all  the  arms,  some  "250  Enfield  rifles.  The  rebel  generals 
Cheatham  and  Hindman,  were  present  during  the  armistice,  and  as 
everything  connected  with  our  assault  on  Kenesaw  is  of  the  deepest 
interest,  we  have  concluded  to  give  a  description  of  these  noted  reb- 
els. Cheatham's  uniform  consisted  of  an  old  slouch  hat,  a  blue 
hickory  shirt,  butternut  pants,  and  a  pair  of  cavalry  boots.  The 
supports  to  his  unmentionables  were  an  old  leather  strap,  and  a  piece 
of  web,  the  general  appearance  being  that  of  a  "johnney"  gone  to 
seed.  In  a  conversation  with  our  colonel  he  stated  that  he  was  of 
the  opinion  that  the  war  would  be  settled  by  treaty,  as  neither  party 
could  conquer.  He  was  satisfied  that  we  had  so  completely  revo- 
lutionized Missouri,  Arkansas,  Tennessee,  Kentucky,  West  Virginia, 
Maryland  and  Louisiana,  that,  they  would  never  form  part  of  the 
Confederacy.  He  virtually  admitted  that  he  was  only  fighting  from 
principle,  and  not  for  the  love  of  the  Southern  Confederacy.  When 
Tennessee  passed  the  ordinance  of  secession,  he  went  with  it,  and 
as  he  had  cast  his  lot,  he  did  not  like  to  "  back  down."  Hindman 
was  an  Arkansian,  and  had  the  reputation  of  being  a  confirmed 
gambler  and  black-leg  He  did  not  command  the  respect  of  his 
troops,  and  by  his  brother  officers  he  was  despised.  In  appearance 
he  was  very  dressy.  His  auburn  hair  flowed  in  ringlets  over  his 
shoulders,  and  it  was  stated  that  a  light  mulatto  girl  dressed  it  for 
him  every  morning.  Colonel  Rice  was  very  gentlemanly  and  hu- 
mane in  the  manner  in  which  he  assisted  our  fellows  to  pay  the  last 
sad  rites  to  those  who  had  fallen  in  front  of  their  works  while  brave- 
ly fighting. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

Acknowledging  the  failure  of  the  assault,  but  acting  under  the 
conviction  that  it  would  be  fatal  to  rest  long  under  the  influence  of 
a  defeat,  General  Sherman  determined  to  again  try  a  flanking  move- 
ment, and  in  consequence  every  effort  was  put  forth  to  make  it  a 
success.  Accordingly  on  the  ist  of  July,  General  McPherson  was 
relieved  by  Garrard's  cavalry  in  front  of  Kenesaw,  and  the  relieved 
command  was  hastily  moved  to  the  right.  General  McPherson  com- 
menced his  movement  on  the  night  of  July  2nd,  and  the  effect  was 
instantaneous.  On  the  morning  of  the  3rd  Kenesaw  was  abandoned 
and  the  first  dawn  of  day  saw  our  skirmishers  appear  on  the  moun- 
tain top. 

Marietta  was  evacuated,  and  General  Sherman  entered  it  in  per- 
son at  half-past  eight  in  the  morning,  just  as  the  enemy's  cavalry 
vacated  the  place.  The  orders  were  to  push  the  enemy,  with  the 
hope  of  catching  him  in  confusion  as  he  made  the  passage  of  the 
Chattahoochie  river.  But  Johnston  had  provided  against  this  and 
had  covered  his  movement  well.  On  the  7th  of  July,  we  had 
effected  a  crossing  of  the  river.  At  the  same  time  General  Garrard 
had  moved  rapidly  on  Roswell,  and  destroyed  the  factories  which 
had  supplied  the  rebel  armies  with  cloth  for  years.  Over  one  of 
these  the  nominal  owner  displayed  the  French  flag,  which  of  course 
was  not  respected.  On  the  loth  of  July  at  day  light,  Johnston  re- 
treated southward,  leaving  the  army  of  the  union  undisputed  mas- 
ters north  and  west  of  the  Chattahoochie  river,  along  whose  grassy 
banks  we  remained  quietly  in  camp  until  the  i6th  of  July,  though 
the  time  was  employed  in  collecting  stores  at  Alatoona,  Marietta 
and  Vinings  Station,  strengthening  the  railroad  guards  and  garrisons, 
and  improving  the  bridges  and  roads  leading  across  the  river.  On 
the  1 7th,  everything  being  in  readiness,  we  were  again  ordered  to 
advance,  and  formed  a  general  line  along  the  old  Peach  Tree  creek 
road.  Our  brigade  crossed  the  creek  on  logs  and  impromptu 


THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I.  IOI 

bridges  in  face  of  a  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy,  who  occupied  in- 
trenched lines  ready  to  receive  us. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  2oth  about  4  p.  m.,  the  enemy  sallied 
from  his  works  in  force  and  fell  in  line  of  battle  against  our  right 
center.  The  blow  was  sudden,  and  somewhat  unexpected,  but  af- 
ter a  severe  battle  they  were  repulsed,  leaving  on  the  field  about 
500  dead,  1000  wounded,  7  stands  of  colors  and  many  prisoners. 
His  loss  could  not  have  fallen  short  of  5000,  whereas  our  loss  was 
covered  by  1500  killed,  wounded  and  missing.  On  the  2ist  a  re- 
connoisance  was  made  of  the  enemy,  in  his  intrenched  position,  at 
a  general  distance  from  Atlanta  of  about  four  miles.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  the  aand  this  whole  line  was  found  abandoned,  much  to  the 
surprise  of  the  union  army.  We  thought,  for  a  time,  that  the  enemy 
had  concluded  to  give  up  Atlanta  without  further  contest.  Gen. 
Johnston  had  been  relieved  of  his  command  and  Gen.  Hood  sub- 
stituted. A  new  policy  seemed  resolved  on,  of  which  the  bold  at- 
tack on  the  right  was  the  index.  Our  ranks  without  opposition 
swept  across  the  strong  and  well  finished  works  of  the  enemy,  and 
closed  in  upon  Atlanta  until  they  occupied  a  line  in  the  form  of  a 
general  circle  of  about  two  miles  in  radius,  when  the  enemy  was 
again  found  occupying  in  force  a  line  of  finished  redoubts,  which 
had  been  prepared  for  more  than  a  year,  covering  all  the  roads  lead- 
ing into  Atlanta.  Here  it  was,  that  under  the  leadership  of  their 
new  commander,  Hood,  they  made  a  desperate  assault  on  our  lines, 
but  only  to  be  repulsed  with  terrible  slaughter.  But  this  battle  of 
the  22d  of  July  cost  us  3,722  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners,  and 
among  the  dead  was  Major  general  McPherson.  The  enemy  left 
on  the  field  an  aggregate  loss  of  8000  men.  And  so  the  days  passed, 
fighting  and  erecting  breast-works,  until  on  the  ist  day  of  Septem- 
ber, when  as  we  were  in  front  of  Jonesboro,  a  small  town  below  At- 
lanta, the  rebels  came  out  of  their  works  and  offered  us  battle.  The 
enemy  attacked  with  Lee  and  Hardee's  corps  and  after  a  contest  of 
over  two  hours  withdrew  behind  their  works,  leaving  over  400  dead 
on  the  ground,  and  his  wounded,  of  which  about  300  were  left  in 
Jonesboro,  making  his  loss  not  much  less  than  2,500.  Orders  were 
at  once  given  for  all  the  army  to  turn  on,  Jonesboro.  About  4  p. 
m.  of  that  day  Gen.  Davis,  our  corps  commander,  was  all  ready, 


102  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 

and  we  assaulted  the  enemy's  lines  across  open  fields,  carrying 
them  and  taking  as  prisoners  Govan's  brigade,  including  its  com- 
mander and  staff  and  two  four-gun  batteries.  The  next  morning 
the  enemy  was  gone.  He  had  retreated  further  south.  About  two 
o'clock  that  night  the  sounds  of  heavy  explosions  were  heard  in  the 
direction  of  Atlanta,  distance  about  twenty  miles,  with  a  succession 
of  minor  explosions  and  what  seemed  like  the  rapid  firing  of  can- 
non and  musketry.  These  continued  for  about  an  hour,  and  again 
about  four  a.  m.  occurred  another  series  of  similar  discharges,  ap- 
parently nearer  to  us,  and  these  sounds  could  be  accounted  for  on 
no  other  grounds  than  that  of  a  night  attack  on  Atlanta  by  General 
Slocum,  or  the  blowing  up  of  the  enemy's  magazines.  Rumors  be- 
gan to  arrive,  through  prisoners  captured,  that  Atlanta  had  been 
abandoned,  and  that  Hood  had  blown  up  his  ammunition  trains, 
which  accounted  for  the  sounds.  On  the  morning  of  Sept.  2nd  a 
courier  arrived  from  Gen.  Slocum,  reporting  that  the  enemy  had 
evacuated  Atlanta,  blown  up  seven  trains  of  cars  and  retreated  on 
the  McDonough  road,  and  that  he,  Slocum,  held  possession  of  the 
city.  On  the  yth  of  September  the  entire  army  went  into  camps 
grouped  about  Atlanta,  our  brigade  having  reached  the  city  on 
the  night  of  the  3rd  in  charge  of  nearly  1700  prisoners  captured  at 
Jonesboro,  was  posted  in  the  suburbs  of  the  city.  Thus  was  com- 
pleted and  sent  down  to  history  another  of  the  great  campaigns  of 
the  war. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Our  victorious  march  from  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta,  was  a  military 
operation,  whose  successful  close  would  have  turned  the  heads  of  the 
French.  It  was  made  through  a  country  presenting  great  natural 
obstacles,  sufficient  to  deter  a  general  of  average  qualities,  and  these 
natural  defences  the  enemy  had  strengthened  by  a  series  of  remark- 
able works,  before  each  of  which  some  generals  would  have  paused 
to  lay  seige.  But  our  leader,  with  the  soldiers  under  his  command, 
proved  equal  to  every  emergency,  and  the  campaign  ended  with  glo- 
ry to  our  arms.  Immediately  after  occupying  Atlanta,  Gen.  Sher- 
man posted  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  in  the  neighborhood  of 
East  Point ;  the  Army  of  the  Ohio,  at  Decatur,  and  retained  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland  to  hold  the  city.  Thus  stationed  we  were 
permitted  to  enjoy  the  rest  we  so  greatly  needed.  Although  nearly 
all  the  inhabitants  of  Atlanta,  whose  circumstances  permitted  them 
to  go,  had  left  that  city  previous  to  its  occupation  by  the  Federal 
forces,  yet  a  great  many  remained  both  by  choice  and  necessity.  It 
was  determined  to  make  a  grand  military  post  of  Atlanta,  and  as 
one  of  the  first  measures  to  this  end,  General  Sherman  directed  that 
all  non-combatants  must  leave  the  city  at  once.  He  knew  that  the 
inhabitants  of  Atlanta  could  not  subsist  long  in  the  city  without  the 
aid  of  the  Government,  and  his  line  o'f  communications  was  too  long 
and  precarious  to  permit  him  to  divide  the  rations  of  his  soldiers 
with  citizens.  He  therefore  issued  an  order  commencing  thus  :  "The 
city  of  Atlanta  being  exclusively  for  warlike  purposes,  will  at  once 
be  vacated  by  all,  except  the  armies  of  the  United  States,  and  such 
civilian  employes  as  may  be  retained  by  the  proper  department  of 
the  Government."  This  order  may  appear  to  be  harsh  and  vindic- 
tive, yet  it  was  not  only  justifiable,  but  absolutely  necessary.  The 
mayor  and  two  members  of  the  city  council  of  Atlanta,  petitioned 
General  Sherman  to  revoke  it,  to  which  petition  he  made  the  follow- 
ing reply,  than  which  a  more  noble  defense  of  his  order,  could  not 


104  THE    I25TH    REGIMENT    I.   V.    I. 

be  made.     As  this  letter  of  General  Sherman's  seems  to  us  to  be  of 
more  than  common  interest,  and  as  it  will  undoubtedly  be  highly  in- 
teresting to  the  reader  who  scans  these  pages,  we  will  insert  it  here : 
Head  quarters  Military  Division  of  the  Mississippi 
In  the  field,  Atlanta,  Ga.,  September  12,  1864. 

James  M.  Cahoun,  Mayor;  E.  E.  Rawson  and  S.  C.  Wells,  repre- 
senting City  Council  of  Atlanta,  Gentlemen  : 
I  have  your  letter  of  the  nth,  in  the  nature  of  a  petition,  to  re- 
voke my  orders  removing  all  the  inhabitants  from  Atlanta.  I  have 
read  it  carefully  and  gave  full  credit  to  your  statements  of  the  dis- 
tress that  will  be  occasioned  by  it,  and  yet  shall  not  revoke  my  or- 
der, simply  because  my  orders  are  not  designed  to  meet  the  human- 
ities of  the  case,  but  to  prepare  for  the  future  struggles,  in  which 
millions,  yea  hundreds  of  millions  of  good  people,  outside  of  At- 
lanta, have  a  deep  interest.  We  must  have  peace,  not  only  in  At- 
lanta, but  in  all  America.  To  secure  this,  we  must  stop  the  war 
that  now  desolates  our  once  favored  and  happy  country.  To  stop 
war,  we  must  defeat  the  rebel  armies  that  are  arrayed  against  the 
laws  and  constitution,  which  all  must  respect  and  obey.  To  defeat 
these  armies  we  must  prepare  the  way  to  reach  them  in  their  re- 
cesses, provided  with  the  arms  and  instruments  which  enable  us  to 
accomplish  our  purpose.  Now  I  know  the  vindictive  nature  of  our 
enemy,  and  that  we  may  have  many  years  of  military  operations 
from  this  quarter,  and  therefore  deem  it  wise  and  prudent  to  prepare 
in  time.  The  use  of  Atlanta  for  warlike  purposes  is  inconsistent 
with  its  character  as  a  home  for  families.  There  will  be  no  manu- 
factures, commerce  or  agriculture  here  for  the  maintenance  of 
families,  and,  sooner  or  later,  want  will  compel  the  inhabitants  to  go. 
Why  not  go  now,  when  all  the  arrangements  are  completed  for  the 
transfer,  instead  of  waiting  until  the  plunging  shot  of  contending 
armies  will  renew  the  scenes  of  the  past  month  ?  Of  course,  I  do 
not  apperhend  any  such  thing  at  this  moment ;  but  you  do  not  sup- 
pose that  this  army  will  be  here  until  the  war  is  over.  I  can  not 
discuss  this  subject  with  you  fairly,  because  I  cannot  impart  to  you 
what  I  propose  to  do  ;  but  I  assert  that  my  military  plans  make  it 
necessary  for  the  inhabitants  to  go  away,  and  I  can  only  renew  my 
offer  of  services  to  make  the  exodus,  in  any  direction,  as  easy  and 
comfortable  as  possible.  You  cannot  qualify  war  in  harsher  terms 
than  I  will.  War  is  cruelty,  and  you  cannot  refine  it ;  and  those 
who  brought  war  on  our  country  deserve  all  the  curses  and  maledic- 
tions a  people  can  pour  out.  I  know  I  had  no  hand  in  making  this 
war,  and  I  know  I  will  make  more  sacrifices  to  day  than  any  of  you 
to  secure  peace.  But  you  cannot  have,  peace  and  a  division  of  our 
country.  If  the  United  States  submits  to  a  division  now,  it  will  not 


THE     I25TH    REGIMENT    I.    V.    I.  105 

stop,  but  will  go  on  until  we  reap  the  fate  of  Mexico,  which  is,  eter- 
nal war.  The  United  States  does  and  must  assert  its  authority, 
wherever  it  has  power,  if  it  relaxes  one  bit  to  pressure,  it  is  gone, 
and  I  know  that  such  is  not  the  national  feeling.  This  feeling  as- 
sumes various  shapes,  but  always  comes  back  to  that  of  Union. 
Once  admit  the  Union,  once  more  acknowledge  the  authority  of  the 
National  Government,  and  instead  of  devoting  your  houses,  and 
streets  and  roads,  to  the  dread  usages  of  war,  I  and  this  army  be- 
come at  once  your  protectors  and  supporters,  shielding  you  from 
danger,  let  it  come  from  what  quarter  it  may.  I  know  that  a  few 
individuals  cannot  resist  a  torrent  of  error  and  passion,  such  as  has 
swept  the  South  into  rebellion,  but  you  can  point  out,  so  that  we  may 
know  those  who  desire  a  government,  and  those  who  insist  upon  war, 
and  its  desolation.  You  might  as  well  appeal  against  the  thunder- 
storm, as  against  these  terrible  hardships  of  war.  They  are  inevita- 
ble, and  the  only  way  the  people  of  Atlanta  can  hope  once  more  to 
live  in  peace  and  quiet  at  home,  is  to  stop  this  war,  which  can  alone 
be  done  by  admitting  that  it  began  in  error  and  is  perpetuated  in 
pride.  We  don't  want  your  negroes,  or  your  horses,  or  your  houses, 
or  your  lands,  or  anything  you  have,  but  we  do  want  and  will  have 
a  just  obedience  to  the  laws  of  the  United  States.  That  we  will 
have,  and  if  it  involves  the  destruction  of  your  improvements,  we 
cannot  help  it.  You  have  heretofore  read  public  sentiment  in  your 
newspapers  that  live  by  falsehood  and  excitement,  and  the  quicker 
you  seek  for  truth  in  other  quarters,  the  better  for  you.  I  repeat 
then,  that  by  the  original  compact  of  Government,  the  United  States 
had  certain  rights  in  Georgia,  which  have  never  been  relinquished, 
and  never  will  be ;  that  the  South  began  war  by  seizing  forts,  arse- 
nals, mints,  custom  houses,  etc.,  etc.,  long  before  Mr.  Lincoln  was 
installed,  and  before  the  South  had  one  jot  or  tittle  of  provocation. 
I  myself  have  seen  in  Missouri,  Kentucky,  Tennessee  and  part  of 
Mississippi,  hundreds  and  thousands  of  women  and  children,  fleeing 
from  your  armies  and  desperadoes,  hungry  and  with  bleeding  feet. 
In  Memphis,  Vicksburg  and  Mississippi,  we  fed  thousands  upon 
thousands  of  the  families  of  rebel  soldiers  left  on  our  hands,  and 
when  we  could  not  see  them  starve.  Now  that  war  comes  home  to 
you,  you  feel  very  different;  you  deprecate  its  horrors,  but  did  not 
feel  them  when  you  sent  car  loads  of  soldiers  and  ammunition,  and 
moulded  shell  and  shot  to  carry  war  into  Kentucky  and  Tennessee, 
and  desolate  the  homes  of  hundreds  and  thousands  of  good  people, 
who  only  asked  to  live  in  peace  at  their  old  homes,  and  under  the 
government  of  their  inheritance.  But  these  comparisons  are  idle.  I 
want  peace,  and  believe  it  can  only  be  reached  through  union  and 
war,  and  I  will  ever  conduct  war  purely  with  a  view  to  perfect  and 
early  success.  But,  my  dear  sir,  when  that  peace  does  come,  you 


106  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 

may  call  on  me  for  anything.  Then  will  I  share  with  you  the  last 
cracker,  and  watch  with  you  to  shield  your  homes  and  your  families 
against  danger  from  every  quarter.  .Now  you  must  go,  and  take 
with  you  the  old  and  feeble,  feed  them  and  nurse  them,  and  build 
for  them,  in  more  quiet  places,  proper  habitations  to  shield  them 
against  the  weather,  until  the  mad  passions  of  war  cool  down,  and 
allow  the  Union  and  peace  once  more  to  settle  on  your  old  homes 
at  Atlanta. 

Yours  in  haste. 

W.  T.  SHERMAN, 

Major  General. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

An  armstice  of  ten  days  was  agreed  upon  by  Gens.  Sherman  and 
Hood  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  this  order.  All  who  desired 
to  go  south  were  furnished  transportation  to  Rough  and  Ready 
Station  by  Gen.  Sherman,  where  they  were  received  by  the  rebel 
forces.  All  those  preferring  to  go  north  were  also  furnished  by  him 
with  transportation.  This  being  completed,  Gen.  Sherman  began 
the  reorganization  of  the  army,  with  a  view  to  future  movements. 
We  were  re-clothed  and  equipped,  and  the  stains  and  marks  of  our 
long  and  arduous  campaign  passed  away. 

On  the  23rd  day  of  September  the  division  of  which  the  3rd  bri- 
gade was  a  part,  under  command  of  Gen.  J.  D.  Morgan,  began  a 
forced  march  to  north  Alabama  via  Chattanooga  in  pursuit  of  Gen. 
Forest's  cavalry,  then  as  far  to  our  rear  as  middle  and  west  Tennes- 
see, and  whose  presence  daily  jeopardized  our  "  cracker  line."  The 
command  returned  on  the  i5th  of  November,  having  been  gone  48 
days,  and  completed,  as  is  claimed  by  those  who  made  it,  one  of 
the  most  difficult  and  laborious  marches  of  the  war.  It  was  not 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I.  107 

the  good  fortune  of  the  writer  to  be  with  the  troops  on  this  trip, 
and  he  is  obliged  to  refer  the  readers  to  the  subjoined  reports  for 
such  detailed  information  as  they  contain,  assuring  you,  however, 
that  the  i2£th  bore  itself  as  grandly  as  on  all  other  occasions.  In 
the  meantime  we  will  try  to  tell  you  what  the  army  encamped  in 
and  about  Atlanta  was  doing,  as  to  this  we  were  attached  during  the 
campaign  first  mentioned.  As  an  army  we  rested  here  in  our  camp 
taking  our  ease,  eating  our  rations,  and  wondering  when  the  bugle 
would  again  sound  the  "forward."  On  the  28th  of  September, 
Sherman  became  convinced  that  the  enemy  intended  to  assume  the 
offensive.  He  sent  Thomas  to  Nashville  to  organize  the  new  troops 
who  were  arriving  there,  and  a  new  line  of  works  around  Atlanta 
were  completed,  which  would  only  require  a  small  garrison  to  hold. 
And  now  we  come  to  the  relation  of  the  grandest  campaign  that 
has  ever  been  made  in  modern  times.  Like  the  Roman  general 
who  burned  his  ship,  on  landing  on  the  enemy's  shores,  so  that  his 
army  could  have  no  avenue  of  retreat,  so  Sherman,  when  his  orders 
had  been  carried  out  and  everything  was  in  readiness,  on  the  i2th 
day  of  November,  1864,  severed  his  communications  with  the  north. 
On  that  day  the  last  train  of  cars  whirled  rapidly  past  us.  speeding 
over  bridges  and  into  the  woods  as  if  afraid  of  being  left  helpless 
and  alone  in  the  deserted  land.  At  Cartersville  the  last  communi- 
cation by  telegraph  with  the  north  was  severed.  It  bore  the  mes- 
sage to  Gen.  Thomas  at  Nashville,  "  all  is  well."  The  army  with 
which  Sherman  made  the  "  march  to  the  sea,"  was  composed  of  the 
fifteenth  and  seventeenth  corps,  forming  the  right  wing,  under  Maj. 
Gen.  O.  O.  Howard,  the  fourteenth  (our  corps)  and  the  twentieth 
corps  forming  the  left  wing,  under  the  command  of  Maj.  Gen.  H. 
W.  Slocum,  making  an  aggregate  strength  of  60,000  infantry ;  one 
cavalry  division,  to  aggregate  5.500  men  men,  under  Brig.  Gen. 
Judson  Kilpatrick,  and  the  artillery  reduced  to  the  mimimum.  one 
gun  for  1000  men.  On  the  i6th  we  left  Atlanta  with  Gen.  Sher- 
man in  person,  and  moved  by  Lithonia,  Covington  and  Shady  Dale 
directly  on  Milledgville,  the  capitol  of  the  state.  All  the  troops 
were  provided  with  goo\3  wagon  trains  loaded  with  ammunition  and 
supplies,  approximating  twenty  days  bread,  forty  days  sugar  and 
coffee,  a  double  allowance  of  salt  for  forty  days,  and  beef  cattle 


I08  THE    I25TH    REGIMENT    I.    V.    1. 

equal  to  forty  days'  supplies.  The  wagons  also  were  supplied  with 
about  three  days  forage  in  grain.  All  were  instructed,  by  a  judici- 
ous system  of  foraging,  to  maintain  this  order  of  things  as  long  as 
possible,  living  chiefly,  if  not  solely,  upon  the  country,  which  was 
known  to  abound  in  corn,  sweet  potatoes  and  meats.  But  on  the 
night  of  the  i5th.  before  leaving  Atlanta,  a  grand  and  awful  sight 
was  witnessed  by  many  beholders.  By  order,  the  chief  engineer 
destroyed  by  powder  and  fire  all  the  store  houses,  depot  buildings 
and  machine  shops.  The  heaven  was  one  expanse  of  lurid  fire  : 
the  air  was  filled  with  flying,  burning  cinders.  Buildings  covering 
over  two  hundred  acres  of  ground  were  in  ruins  or  in  flames.  Every 
instant  there  was  the  sharp  report,  or  the  smothered  burning  sound 
of  exploding  shells  and  powder  concealed  in  the  building,  and  then 
the  sparks  and  flames  shooting  away  up  in  the  black  and  red  roof, 
scattering  the  cinders  far  and  wide.  These  were  the  machine  shops 
where  had  been  forged  and  cast,  cannon,  shot  and  shell  that  had 
carried  death  to  many  a  brave  boy.  These  warehouses  had  been 
the  receptacle  of  munitions  of  war,  stored  to  be  used  in  slaughter- 
ing the  men  who  were  now  witnessing  their  destruction.  The  city 
which,  next  to  Richmond,  had  furnished  more  material  for  prosecut- 
ing the  war  than  any  other  in  the  south,  existed  no  more  as  a  means 
of  aid  for  enemies  of  the  union.  Nothing  remained  but  its  dwell- 
ing houses  and  churches.  On  the  8th  day  after  leaving  Atlanta, 
that  is  the  23rd,  we  marched  through  and  occupied  Milledgville,  the 
capitol  of  the  state.  The  legislature  had  been  in  session,  but  on 
hearing  of  our  approach  it  broke  up  and  fled.  The  alarm  of  its 
members  was  communicated  to  the  people,  and  the  place  was  prac- 
tically depopulated,  no  one  remaining  but  a  few  old  ladies  and  gen- 
tlemen and  the  negroes,  the  latter  welcoming  with  glad  shouts  the 
arrival  of  the  union  army,  filling  the  air  with  such  exclamations  as  : 
"  Bress  de  Lord  !  Tanks  be  to  Almighty  God,  the  yank  is  come. 
De  day  ob  jubilee  hab  aribed."  And  then  they  would  grab  any  fel- 
low who  happened  to  be  near  them,  and  hug  him  liberally.  But  we 
were  not  to  remain  here  ;  two  or  three  regiments  were  detailed,  un- 
der the  orders  of  the  engineers,  to  destroy  certain  property  desig- 
nated by  the  general  commanding.  The  magazines,  arsenals,  depot 
buildings,  factories  of  one  kind  and  another,  with  store  houses,  large 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I.  109 

amounts  of  government  property,  and  some  1700  bales  of  cotton 
were  burned.  Private  houses,  however,  were  respected  everywhere, 
even  those  known  to  be  the  property  of  rebels  then  in  the  field. 
One  or  two  citizens,  who  were  known  to  have  been  in  the  rebel 
army,  were  made  prisoners  of  war,  but  the  surgeons  at  the  hospitals, 
the  principal  of  the  insane  asylum  and  others  expressed  their  thanks 
that  such  good  order  was  preserved  in  the  city.  From  here  our 
corps  marched  to  Sandersville,  which  we  reached  the  next  day, 
skirmishing  most  of  the  way  with  Wheeler's  cavalry. 

On  the  3rd  of  December  we  were  in  the  neighborhood  of  Lump- 
kin's  station  on  the  Augusta  rail  road  ;  all  were  ordered  to  march  in 
the  direction  of  Savannah  :  our  corps  following  the  Savannah  river 
road.  There  was  no  fighting,  save  once  in  a  while  a  little  skirmish  with 
rebel  cavalry.  The  only  battle,  if  so  it  may  be  termed,  was  fought 
by  General  Kilpatrick's  cavalry,  supported  by  General  Baird's  divi- 
sion of  our  corps,  with  Wheeler's  cavalry  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Thomas'  station,  whom  Kilpatrick  whipped  handsomely.  We  were 
drawing  near  Savannah,  and  the  country  became  more  marshy  and 
difficult,  and  more  obstacles  were  met  in  the  shape  of  felled  trees, 
wherever  the  road  crossed  creeks,  swamps,  or  narrow  causeways ; 
but  the  negroes  who  had  flocked  to  us  were  utilized,  and  armed  with 
axes  and  shovels,  formed  into  pioneer  companies,  and  with  incredi- 
ble swiftness  they  would  remove  the  obstructions.  No  opposition 
from  the  enemy  worth  speaking  of,  was  encountered,  until  we  were 
within  about  fifteen  miles  of  Savannah,  where  all  the  roads  were  ob- 
structed with  felled  timber,  earth  works  and  artillery.  The  roads 
were  sandy,  and  straight  almost  as  an  arrow.  One  afternoon  as  we 
were  marching  along,  we  were  surprised  by  the  whizzing  of  a  shell, 
which  came  flying  down  the  road  over  our  heads,  and  then  another 
and  another.  The  brigade  was  quickly  moved  off  the  road  by  the 
right  flank  and  formed  in  line  of  battle.  Lieutenant  Coe,  in  com- 
mand of  our  battery,  with  his  usual  rashness,  went  tearing  up  the 
road  on  his  horse  to  find  position  for  his  guns.  He  saw  the  rebel 
works  stationed  in  the  center  of  the  road  ahead  of  him.  Sitting 
there  on  his  horse,  fearless  of  danger,  looking  for  a  good  position 
for  the  battery,  a  solid  shot  came  whirling  along  and  tore  his  right 
shoulder  off,  killing  him  instantly.  The  sergeant  took  command,  and 


110  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 

soon  our  battery  was  giving  them  as  good  as  they  sent.  We  want 
to  record  it  here,  that  we  thought  our  battery,  "  I  "  company,  of  the 
2nd  111.  artillery,  was  the  best  in  the  service.  It  had  been  under 
good  discipline,  and  was  as  an  effective  body  of  men  as  we  ever  saw 
while  in  the  army.  We  had  been  together  ever  since  we  left  Louis- 
ville, and  some  of  our  boys  had  been  detailed  for  duty  in  the  bat- 
tery, so  we  had  come  to  regard  them  as  part  of  ourselves. 

Our  line  of  battle  with  skirmishers  thrown  out,  had  now  advanced, 
but  owing  to  a  large,  deep  swamp  in  our  front,  and  the  lateness  of 
the  afternoon,  as  it  was  nearly  dark,  we  halted  for  the  night.  In  the 
morning,  the  skirmishers  advancing,  found  the  works  deserted.  We 
were  now  getting  very  close  to  the  city,  and  on  the  i7th.  General 
Sherman  dispatched  to  Savannah,  by  flag  of  truce,  a  formal  demand 
for  the  surrender  of  the  place,  and  on  the  following  day  received  a 
refusal  from  General  Hardee,  who  was  in  command.  We  received 
orders  to  closely  invest  the  city,  and  to  reconnoiter  well  the  ground 
in  our  front,  and  make  all  preparations  for  assaulting  the  place.  But 
Hardee  recognized  the  utter  impossibility  of  holding  the  town  with 
all  his  supply  sources  cut  off,  and  an  enemy  in  front  of  him  who  had 
successfully  marched  through  the  heart  of  the  Confederacy,  evacu- 
ated the  city  on  the  night  of  the  2Oth,  first  blowing  up  and  burning 
the  rebel  iron  clads  and  three  transports.  On  the  i3th  of  December, 
communication  with  the  fleet  in  Tybee,  Warsaw  and  Ossabaw 
Sounds,  that  had  been  watching  and  waiting  for  us,  was  opened  up, 
and  on  the  same  day  Brigadier  General  Hazen  with  the  second  div- 
ision of  the  fifteenth  corps,  carried  by  assault  Fort  McAllister,  man- 
ned by  two  companies  of  artillery,  and  three  of  infantry,  in  all 
about  two  hundred  men,  and  mounting  twenty  three  guns  and  one 
mortar.  Savannah  lay  at  the  feet  of  its  conquerors.  The  fruits  of 
this  almost  bloodless  campaign,  a  campaign  that  would  have  been 
creditable  to  the  genius  of  a  Napoleon,  or  a  Wellington,  were  Sav- 
annah, a  city  of  twenty  thousand  inhabitants,  and  of  great  impor- 
tance to  us  as  a  harbor;  more  than  1000  prisoners,  150  guns,  13  lo- 
comotives in  good  order,  190  cars,  a  very  large  quantity  of  ammuni- 
tion and  material  of  war,  3  steamers,  and  3,200  bales  of  cotton. 
All  this  General  Sherman  offered  to  President  Lincoln  as  a  Christ- 
mas gift.  There  were  also  more  than  15,000  slaves  gathered  into  our 


THE  I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I.  Til 

lines,  some  of  whom  proved  of  great  use  to  the  army.  Such  were 
the  great  results  of  the  capture  of  Savannah,  but  the  greatest  were 
those  made  possible  only,  by  this  success. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

We  remained  at  Savannah  nearly  a  month,  refitting  and  repairing 
for  the  next  campaign.  Christmas  day  was  passed  here,  but  there 
was  no  Christmas  trees,  nor  did  any  Santa'  Claus  appear  to  reward 
us  for  our  good  behavior.  We  had  been  paid  off  before  leaving 
Atlanta,  and  consequently  there  was  a  good  deal  of  money  in  camp, 
and  the  "chuck- a- luck"  gamesters  were  in  the  height  of  their  sea- 
son. Gambling  was  positively  against  orders,  but  all  the  same  it 
was  carried  on,  and  wherever  a  squad  of  men  could  be  seen  grouped 
together,  you  might  be  sure  there  was  a  chuck-a-luck  board  in  full 
play.  The  guards  detailed  to  arrest  these  fellows,  had  a  lively  time 
of  it.  Every  point  of  strategy  of  which  they  were  cognizant,  was 
employed  to  bring  the  offenders  to  justice.  Coming  on  them  by  a 
flank  movement,  surrounding  them,  or  approaching  them  by  a  direct 
charge  on  the  double  quick.  All  their  manceuvering  generally  came 
to  naught,  for  some  one  was  always  on  the  lookout,  and  was  sure  to 
see  the  first  appearance  of  danger,  and  with  a  shout  would  give  the 
alarm,  when  all  would  take  to  their  heels,  leaving  the  pursuers  to  re- 
flect on  the  uselessness  of  their  endeavors.  But  sometimes  the  guards 
would  make  a  capture,  and  march  the  luckless  offenders  off  to  head- 
quarters, where,  after  receiving  a  lecture  on  the  immoral  practice  of 
gambling  in  general,  and  of  chuck-a-luck  in  particular,  he  would 
be  ordered  to  stand  on  a  barrel,  or  carry  a  rail  on  his  shoulder  for  a 
few  hours. 


112  THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I. 

Savannah  is  a  beautiful  city,  the  streets  are  wide  and  lined  with  live 
oak  trees,  with  promenades  beneath  them,  and  the  dwelling  houses 
are  very  handsome,  the  yards  and  gardens  are  filled  with  the  richest 
and  most  varied  kind  of  plants  and  shrubs.  Here  we  saw  the  mon- 
ument erected  to  the  memory  of  Count  Pulaski,  a  beautiful  shaft, 
covered  at  its  base  with  appropriate  inscriptions,  recording,  in  letters 
of  stone,  the  memory  of  him  in  whose  honor  it  was  raised.  The 
city  has  some  charming  parks,  and  when  not  on  duty,  we  would  pass 
the  time  rambling  around  and  noting  all  that  was  to  be  seen.  Here 
one  day  the  writer  and  a  comrade,  having  secured  the  necessary  pass, 
proceeded  to  the  river,  and  obtaining  a  boat,  pushed  off,  bound  on 
a  visit  to  the  gunboat  Wissahickon,  then  anchored  in  the  stream  be- 
low the  city,  her  crew  being  employed  in  fishing  for  torpedoes  which 
the  rebels  had  thrown  into  the  channel  of  the  river,  in  order  that 
they  might  blow  up  our  vessels  as  they  proceeded  up  the  stream  to 
the  wharfs.  We  had  a  pleasant  row,  and  an  equally  pleasant  visit 
with  the  officers  and  crew.  We  were  the  first  of  Sherman's  men 
that  they  had  seen,  and  they  were  very  anxious  to  know  the  particu- 
lars of  the  march  ;  we  told  them  our  adventures  since  leaving  At- 
lanta, which  seemed  greatly  to  excite  their  wonder  and  admiration. 
We  left  the  Wissahicken  with  kindly  feelings  for  all  on  board,  and 
as  we  pulled  up  the  river  back  toward  the  city,  we  sang  : 

"  The  Army  and  Navy  ne'er  sever, 

But  still  to  their  colors  prove  true, 
It's  the  Army  and  Navy  forever, 

Three  cheers  for  the  Red,  White  and  Blue.'' 

We  arrived  safely  in  camp,  feeling  that  be  had  passed  a  pleasant 
day. 

When  we  arrived  at  Savannah  we  were  the  proud  owner  of  a  very 
large  red  rooster,  whom  we  named  "Jeremiah,"  but  for  short  we 
generally  addressed  him  as  "  Jerry."  He  was  a  character,  if  ever  a 
rooster  could  be  termed  such,  and  if  he  had  not  acquired  a  great 
knowledge  as  the  man's  chickens  who,  on  account  of  his  many 
moves  and  changes,  they  had  got  so  in  the  habit  of  having  their  legs 
tied,  that  they  would,  whenever  they  saw  a  covered  wagon,  run  into 
the  front  yard,  fall  on  their  backs,  and  cross  their  legs  ready  for  tie- 
ing;  'if  Jeremiah  had  not  learnt  this  much,  he  still  was  very  easily 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I.  113 

managed,  and  would  stand  round  of  a  morning  while  "  Dick,"  our 
darkey,  was  loading  down  our  pack  mule  with  blankets,  and  other 
necessaries,  getting  ready  for  the  march,  and  when  it  came  time  for 
"  Jerry  "  to  be  lifted  to  his  place  on  top  of  the  load,  he  would  make 
no  objection,  but  would  suffer  himself  to  be  tied  on  securely,  and 
there  he  would  ride  all  day.  This  had  come  to  be  such  an  every  day 
matter,  that  it  was  almost  a  second  nature  to  him,  and  his  amaze- 
ment was  great,  when  day  after  day  passed,  and  he  was  not  called 
on  to  take  his  accustomed  place  on  top  of  our  portable  treasures. 
"Jeremiah  "  waxed- fat,  and  would  every  now  and  then  express  his 
satisfaction  at  the  situation,  by  a  shrill  crow.  But  the  boys  were 
getting  tired  of  him,  for  in  spite  of  our  endeavors  "Jerry"  would 
somehow  manage  to  get  in  our  tents,  and  sleep,  and  at  the  first  dawn 
of  day,  his  crow  would  ring  upon  our  ears.  This  was  all  right 
enough  while  we  were  on  the  march,  but  now  that  we  were  in  camp, 
they  failed  to  appreciate  it,  so  threats  of  vengeance  were  loudly  made. 
We  begged  and  plead  for  him,  but  all  to  no  purpose,  "  they  were 
not  going  to  have  that  miserable  rooster  crowing  in  their  ears  every 
morning,"  they  said,  so  finally  we  had  to  yield  to  the  pressure  of  pub- 
lic opinion,  and  gave  the  order  for  "  Jerry  "  to  be  executed,  which 
was  accordingly  done,  and  we  whetted  our  teeth  to  devour  him. 
"  Jeremiah  "  was  undoubtedly  an  old  bird,  for  constant  boiling  all 
day,  failed  to  render  him  tender.  But  we  had  a  feast,  all  the  same, 
as  "  Jerry,"  after  being  cut  up  in  small  pieces,  and  having  for  ac- 
companiment a  large  piece  of  pork,  and  a  handful  or  two  of  hard- 
tack, made  a  camp  kettle  full  of  food.  We  picked  poor  "Jerry's" 
bones  clean,  thereby  proving,  although  in  different  words,  the  truth 
of  the  old  adage,  "  the  big  roosters  eat  up  the  little  ones." 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

Here  at  Savannah  we  fared  sumptuously  on  oysters  and  fresh  fish. 
Every  evening  the  negroes  would  come  up  to  the  city  from  the 
mouth  of  the  river,  with  their  boat  loads  of  oysters.  These  we  pur- 
chased at  the  rate  of  one  dollar  per  bushel,  and  taking  them  to  camp 
would  throw  them  on  the  fire,  and  let  them  roast,  the  opening  of 
the  shell  indicating  when  the  bivalve  was  thoroughly  cooked.  Many 
a  feast  of  this  sort  did  we  have  while  there.  But  our  feasting  and 
merry  making  was  rudely  ended  by  the  bugle  one  morning  sounding 
the  call  to  "  strike  tents."  Everything  was  ready,  and  we  were  now 
to  leave  Savannah,  and  commence  the  march  which  ended  at  Wash- 
ington. The  city  of  Savannah  and  the  forts  around  it  were  trans- 
ferred to  Gen.  Foster,  commanding  the  department  of  the  south, 
and  on  the  igth  of  January,  1865,  all  preparations  were  completed 
and  the  mardi  commenced.  The  weather  was  very  bad,  the  Jan- 
uary rains  had  commenced  to  fall,  swelling  the  Savannah  river,  over- 
flowing its  bottoms  and  making  the  roads  miserable.  This  made  no 
difference,  however,  to  our  general,  so  we  marched  up  the  river  to 
Sisters  Ferry,  but  owing  to  the  high  state  of  the  water,  and  the 
difficulty  in  laying  the  pontoons,  we  did  not  succeed  in  getting  every- 
thing across,  until  the  first  week  in  February.  And  now  we  entered 
on  the  soil  of  South  Carolina,  and  the  feelings  of  the  men  were 
openly  expressed  as  they  stepped  off  of  the  pontoons,  by  the  de- 
claration that  now  they  were  in  the  state  which  had  caused  more 
trouble  than  any  other  state  in  the  union.  We  were  behind  the  rest 
of  the  army  owing  to  the  difficulties  encountered  in  crossing  the 
Savannah,  and  so  we  had  to  march  rapidly  to  overtake  the  right 
wing,  but  at  last  we  caught  up  with  it.  Foraging  was  again  the 
order  of  the  day,  we  were  compelled  to  subsist  off  of  the  country 
through  which  we  passed.  Every  morning  a  detail  of  two  men  from 
each  company  would  be  made,  making  twenty  men  to  a  regiment. 
They  were  put  under  command  of  a  commissioned  officer,  and 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I.  115 

would  leave  camp  about  an  hour  before  the  army  moved.  These 
men  would  strike  off  into  the  country  around  and  gather  up  all  the 
provisions  they  could  find,  and  towards  evening  would  turn  their 
steps  towards  the  roads  on  which  the  corps  was  marching.  They 
would  come  into  camp  in  all  styles  of  transportation.  Here  would 
be  a  couple  of  fellows,  who  in  their  wanderings  had  found  a  fine 
buggy  or  carriage  ;  hunting  up  a  mule  or  a  horse,  they  would  hitch 
him  to  the  vehicle,  and  loading  it  down  with  the  proceeds  of  their 
day's  search,  would  come  gravely  riding  into  camp  amid  the  laughter 
of  all  who  saw  them.  Or  some  other  squad  had  come  across  a  grist 
mill,  and  if  there  was  no  grist  on  hand  to  be  ground,  they  would 
soon  procore  some  from  somebody's  corn-field  or  granery,  and  start- 
ing up  the  machinery  would  grind  it  in  good  workmanlike  style, 
load  it  into  an  old  wagon  or  anything  they  could  find  and  bring  it 
into  camp,  burning  the  mill  to  the  ground,  however,  before  leaving 
it.  Others  would  make  their  appearance  riding  on  some  old  mule 
or  horse,  which  they  had  picked  up,  loaded  down  with  hams,  bacon, 
chickens,  sweet  potatoes  or  whatever  they  could  find.  By  these 
means  we  were  provided  with  plenty  of  food  and  in  great  variety. 
The  army  occupied  four  roads  travelling  parallel  to  each  other,  and 
the  location  of  each  corps  could  be  easily  known  by  the  cloud  of 
smoke  that  hovered  over  it  by  day,  and  the  light  of  the  camp  fires 
which  lit  up  the  heavens  at  night.  Our  march  through  South  Caro- 
lina, often  recalled  to  our  minds  the  wanderings  of  the  children  of 
Israel  in  the  wilderness  when  the  Lord  went  before  them  by  day  in 
a  pillar  of  cloud,  and  by  night  in  a  pillar  of  fire.  Our  line  of 
march  extended  over  a  strip  of  country  nearly  sixty  miles  in  width, 
and  with  the  exception  of  the  negro  huts,  this  land  was  stripped  of 
everything.  There  were  undoubtedly  many  acts  of  wanton  cruelty 
and  villainous  outrage  committed  by  some,  but  the  mass  of  the 
army  was  opposed  to  such  actions,  and  loudly  condemned  them. 
Of  course,  in  an  army  the  size  of  ours,  there  were  all  phases  of  hu- 
manity, and  it  was  plainly  seen  that  the  members  of  regiments, 
which  had  been  made  up  in  some  of  our  large  cities,  were  oftener 
guilty  of  acts  of  violence  than  men  from  regiments  which  had  been 
formed  in  the  agricultural  parts  of  the  country.  This  was  entirely 
logical,  as  the  reader  can  easily  understand.  The  weather  still  con- 


Il6  THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.    I. 

tinued  rainy,  and  the  roads  were  terrible,  often  requiring  the  sever- 
est labor  on  the  part  of  all  to  make  them  passable  for  our  teams,  by 
corduroying  them.  At  last  we  reached  the  banks  of  the  Congaree, 
on  the  other  side  of  which  the  city  of  Columbia,  the  capitol  of  the 
state,  was  situated,  and  on  the  night  of  February  the  i5th,  the 
enemy  amused  themselves  by  shelling  our  camps  from  a  battery 
posted  on  that  side  of  the  river.  And  now  we  come  to  a  matter, 
which,  although  not  having  any  particular  bearing  on  the  regiment, 
as  we  did  not  come  within  two  miles  of  the  city,  still  as  a  part  of 
the  army  then  in  front  of  Columbia,  we  must  suffer  in  common 
with  other  regiments  from  the  stigma  the  rebels  sought  to  cast 
upon  our  arms,  by  the  destruction  of  that  city  by  fire  on  the  night 
of  the  1 7th  of  February.  Major  General  Howard  had  received  or- 
ders from  the  general  commanding,  to  destroy  absolutely  all  arsenals 
and  public  property  not  needed  for  the  use  of  our  army,  as  well  as 
railroads,  depots  and  machinery  useful  in  war  to  an  anemy,  but  to 
spare  all  dwellings,  colleges,  schools,  asylums,  and  harmless  private 
property.  The  day  of  the  occupation  of  Columbia  was  clear,  but 
a  tremendous  wind  was  blowing.  One  brigade  of  our  army  was  in 
the  city  and  properly  posted.  Citizens  and  soldiers  were  on  the 
streets,  and  good  order  prevailed.  General  Wade  Hampton,  who 
commanded  the  rebel  rear  guard  of  cavalry,  had,  in  anticipation  of 
the  capture  of  Columbia,  ordered  that  all  cotton,  public  and  private, 
should  be  moved  into  the  streets  and  fired.  Bales  were  piled  every- 
where, the  rope  and  bagging  cut,  and  tufts  of  cotton  were  blown 
about  in  the  wind,  lodged  in  the  trees  and  against  houses,  so  as  to 
resemble  a  snow  storm.  Some  of  these  piles  of  cotton  were  burn- 
ing, especially  one  in  the  very  heart  of  the  city,  near  the  court-house, 
but  the  fire  was  partially  subdued  by  the  labor  of  our  soldiers.  Be- 
fore one  single  public  buiiding  had  been  fired  by  order,  the  smolder- 
ing fires,  set  by  Hampton's  orders,  were  rekindled  by  the  wind  and 
communicated  to  the  buildings  around.  About  dark  they  had  began 
to  spread  and  get  beyond  the  control  of  the  brigade  on  duty  in  the 
city.  A  whole  division  was  brought  in.  but  it  was  found  impossible 
to  check  the  flames,  which  by  midnight,  had  become  unmanageable 
and  raged  until  about  four  a.  m.,  when  the  wind  subsiding,  they 
were  brought  under  control.  Gen.  Sherman  in  his  report  says : 


THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I.  1 17 

"  I  was  up  nearly  all  night  and  saw  Generals  Howard,  Logan  and 
Wood  and  others  laboring  to  save  houses  and  protect  families  thus 
suddenly  deprived  of  shelter,  and  of  bedding,  and  wearing  apparel. 
I  disclaim,  on  the  part  of  my  army,  any  agency  in  this  fire,  but,  on 
the  contrary,  claim  that  we  saved  what  of  Columbia  remains  uncon- 
sumed.  And  without  hesitation  I  charge  General  Wade  Hampton 
with  having  burned  his  own  city  of  Columbia,  not  with  a  malicious 
intent,  or  as  the  manifestation  of  a  silly  "  Roman  Stoicism,"  but 
from  folly  and  want  of  sense  in  filling  it  with  lint,  cotton  and  tinder. 
Our  officers  and  men  on  duty  worked  well  to  extinguish  the  flames, 
but  others  not  on  duty,  including  the  officers  who  had  long  been 
imprisoned  there,  rescued  by  us,  may  have  assisted  in  spreading  the 
fire  after  it  had  once  begun,  and  may  have  indulged  in  unconcealed 
joy  to  see  the  ruin  of  the  capitol  of  South  Carolina.  Thus  ends 
the  account  of  the  destruction  of  Columbia."  We  shall  not  enter 
into  any  discussion  of  the  matter,  as  we  firmly  believe,  along  with 
Gen.  Sherman,  that  it  was  all  caused  by  the  folly  or  ignorance  of 
Gen.  Wade  Hampton. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

It  was  now  the  2ist  of  February,  and  our  wing  of  the  army  had 
reached  Winnsboro,  where  we  went  to  work  destroying  the  rail  road 
up  to  Blackstake's  depot,  and  then  turned  to  Rocky  Mount,  on  the 
Catawba  river.  From  the  23rd  to  the  26th,  heavy  rains  fell  swell- 
ing the  rivers,  and  making  'the  roads  almost  impassable.  On  the 
26th  we  reached  Hanging  Rock,  and  made  preparations  to  cross  the 
river,  but  the  heavy  rains  had  so  swollen  the  stream,  that  our  pon- 
toon bridge  broke,  and  we  had  hard  work  to  restore  it.  At  last  we 


Il8  THE    I25TH    REGIMENT    I.   V.    I. 

succeeded,  and  were  put  in  motion  for  Cheraw,  which  place  we  en- 
tered on  the  3rd  day  of  March  ;  the  enemy  retreating  across  the  Pe- 
dee  river  and  burning  the  bridge.  Here  we  found  much  ammuni- 
tion, and  many  gnns  which  had  been  brought  from  Charleston  on 
the  evacuation  of  that  city.  These  were  destroyed,  as  also  the  rail 
road  bridges  and  trestles  as  far  down  as  Darlington,  when  we  were 
again  put  in  motion  for  Fayetteville,  North  Carolina.  The  weather 
still  continued  bad  and  the  roads  fearful,  but  we  reached  there  on 
the  nth  of  March,  skirmishing  with  Wade  Hampton's  cavalry  that 
covered  the  rear  of  Hardee's  retreating  army.  During  the  night  of 
the  gth,  Hampton  made  a  dash  on  our  cavalry  on  our  left  flank  at 
daylight  and  captured  one  of  their  camps,  and  the  house  in  which 
General  Kilpatrick  had  his  headquarters.  But  Kilpatrick  escaped 
in  his  underclothes  and  rallying  his  men  on  foot  in  a  swamp  near  by, 
succeeded  in  routing  the  enemy,  regaining  his  artillery,  horses,  camp 
and  everything,  save  a  few  prisoners  whom  the  enemy  carried  off, 
leaving  their  dead  on  the  ground.  All  that  day,  the  cavalry  boys 
who  had  made  their  escape  after  being  taken  prisoners  by  the  enemy, 
kept  coming  into  our  line  of  march,  some  of  them  without  hats, 
coats  or  shoes,  all  of  them  on  foot.  But  they  soon  left  us  and  re- 
turned to  their  command.  Their  appearance,  however,  was  ludi- 
crous, and  their  accounts  of  how  they  came  to  be  captured,  were 
generally  the  same.  The  way  in  which  it  happened  was  this  :  Du- 
ring the  night  of  the  gth,  General  Kilpatrick  had  divided  his  three 
brigades  to  picket  the  roads.  Hampton,  detecting  this,  dashed  in  at 
daylight,  and  made  the  capture.  The  i2th,  i3th  and  i4th,  were 
passed  at  Fayetteville,  destroying  the  arsenal  and  the  vast  amount 
of  machinery  which  had  formerly  belonged  to  the  old  Harper's  Fer- 
ry United  States  arsenal.  Every  building  was  knocked  down  and 
burned,  and  every  piece  of  machinery  utterly  broken  up  and  ruined. 
On  the  i5th  of  March  we  again  moved  forward,  the  cavalry  marching 
in  advance  and  skirmishing  heavily  with  the  enemy's  rear  guard  all 
day.  Next  morning  we  again  advanced  in  the  same  order,  and  de- 
veloped the  enemy  with  artillery,  infanbry  and  cavalry,  in  an  in- 
trenched position  in  front  of  the  point  where  the  road  branches  off 
towards  Goldsboro  through  Bentonville.  Orders  were  given  to  press 
forward  and  carry  his  position,  only  difficult  by  reason  of  the  nature 


THE    I25TH    REGIMENT    I.    V.    I.  Iig 

of  the  ground,  which  was  so  soft  that  horses  would  sink  everywhere, 
and  even  men  could  hardly  make  their  way.  Line  of  battle  was 
formed  as  quickly  as  possible,  and  skirmishers  thrown  out,  who  soon 
developed  the  position  of  a  brigade  of  Charleston  heavy  artillery 
armed  as  infantry,  posted  across  the  road  behind  a  light  parapet, 
with  a  battery  enfilading  the  approach  across  a  cleared  field,  but 
they  retreated  in  confusion,  leaving  in  our  hands  three  guns,  and  217 
prisoners,  of  which  68  were  wounded  and  left  in  a  house  near  by 
with  a  rebel  officer,  four  men  and  five  days  rations.  One  hundred 
and  eighty  rebel  dead  were  buried  by  us.  Hardee  retreated  on  the 
road  to  Smithfield.  This  was  the  battle  of  Averysboro.  We  lost 
12  officers  and  65  men  killed,  and  477  wounded,  but  no  prisoners. 
On  the  night  of  the  i8th  we  went  into  camp  on  the  Goldsboro  road, 
twenty-seven  miles  from  Goldsboro,  and  about  five  miles  from  Ben- 
tonville,  where  the  road  from  Clinton  to  Smithfield  crosses  the  Golds- 
boro road.  The  enemy  was  badly  defeated,  and  all  indications 
pointed  that  he  would  make  no  further  opposition  to  our  advance, 
but  subsequent  events  proved  that  such  was  not  the  case.  We  were 
now  marching  on  Goldsboro,  in  North  Carolina,  our  objective  point- 
On  the  morning  of  the  igth,  we  pushed  forward  to  Bentonville,  en- 
countering on  the  road,  and  driving  them  before  us,  Dibbrell's  cavalry, 
until  within  a  few  miles  of  the  town,  where  we  found  the  whole  reb- 
el army,  strongly  posted,  under  command  of  Johnston  himself.  Gen. 
Sherman  had  gone,  that  morning,  with  his  staff  and  escort,  over  to 
the  right.  He  was  promptly  advised  as  to  how  matters  stood,  and 
we  were  ordered  to  act  on  the  defensive  until  Blair's  corps  could 
draw  up,  and  the  three  remaining  divisions  of  the  fifteenth  corps 
could  come  in  on  Johnston's  left  rear,  from  the  direction  of  Cox's 
bridge.  In  the  mean  time  we  received  word,  by  courier,  that  Scho- 
field  and  Terry  would  be  able  to  reach  Goldsboro  by  the  2ist.  Or- 
ders were  sent  to  Schofield  to  push  for  Goldsboro.  By  daylight  on 
the  2oth,  General  Howard,  leaving  his  wagon  train  with  sufficient 
guard,  was  marching  rapidly  on  Bentonville.  And  now  we  come  to 
the  battle  of  Bentonville.  Our  advance  guard,-  consisting  of  two 
brigades,  was  vigorously  attacked,  and  driven  back  on  our  main  body, 
by  the  enemy,  who  thereby  gained  a  temporary  advantage,  and  cap- 
tured three  guns  and  caissons  from  General  Carlin's  division  of  our 


120  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 

corps.  As  soon,  however,  as  General  Slocum  ascertained  that  he 
was  confronted  by  the  whole  rebel  army,  he  deployed  the  second 
division  of  our  corps,  to  which  our  regiment  belonged,  and  brought 
up  on  our  left  the  second  division  of  the  2oth  corps,  arranging  them 
behind  hastily  constructed  baricades,  and  holding  them  strictly  on  the 
defensive.  Kilpatrick  with  his  cavalry  also  came  up  at  the  sound  of 
artillery,  and  massed  on  our  left.  In  this  position  we  repulsed, 
without  giving  an  inch  of  ground,  six  distinct  charges  of  the  corn- 
combined  forces  of  Hoke,  Hardee  and  Cheatham.  Our  artillery 
got  into  position,  and  played  on  the  rebel  ranks  as  they  came  up  to 
the  charge,  doing  fearful  execution  ;  the  slanghter  was  terrible. 
Johnston  had  moved  the  night  before  from  Smithfield,  leaving  all  his 
unnecessary  wheels  behind  him,  and  but  with  little  artillery,  with  the 
intention  of  overwhelming  our  left  flank  before  it  could  be  relteved 
by  our  other  column  coming  to  our  assistance,  but  Johnston  had  not 
yet  learned  that  the  eye  of  Sherman  was  always  on  the  watch,  and 
that  he  was  prepared  for  any  emergency  that  might  arise.  During 
the  night  of  the  igth,  Gen.  Slocum  got  up  the  wagon  train  with  the 
two  divisions  guarding  it,  and  General  Hazen's  division  of  the  i5th 
corps.  This  reinforcement  made  it  impossible  for  Johnston  to  ever- 
whelm  us.  The  right  wing  encountered  the  rebel  cavalry,  as  it  was 
coming  to  our  support,  but  drove  it  with  serious  loss  until  the  head 
of  the  column  encountered  a  considerable  body  behind  a  barricade 
at  the  forks  of  the  road  near  Bentonville,  about  three  miles  east  of 
the  battle  field  of  the  day  before.  This  force  was  quickly  dislodged 
and  the  intersection  of  the  roads  secured.  These  movements  which 
were  being  made  were  all  accomplished  by  4  p.  m.  of  the  2oth,  when 
we  opened  out  to  the  astonished  gaze  of  General  Johnston,  a  com- 
plete and  strong  line  of  battle.  His  intention  of  crushing  and  cap- 
turing our  left  wing,  was  completely  foiled,  and  instead  of  being  the 
aggressor,  he  found  himself  placed  on  the  defensive,  with  Mill  creek 
in  his  rear,  spanned  by  a  single  bridge.  It  was  General  Sherman's 
desire  to  hold  the  enemy  in  position  until  Generals  Schofield  and 
Terry  could  advance  and  cut  off  his  retreat,  thus  completely  "  bag- 
ging "  him,  so  he  did  not  press  him  to  battle,  but  continued  to  an- 
noy him  with  the  skirmishers,  using  the  artillery  freely  on  all  the 
wooded  ground  in  front,  and  feeling  strongly  for  the  flanks  of  his 


THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I.  121 

position,  which  were  found  to  be  covered  by  swamps.  All  of  our 
empty  wagons  were  sent  to  Kinston  for  supplies,  and  all  other  im- 
pediments were  grouped  south  of  Goldsboro,  near  the  Neuse  river, 
while  the  main  army  were  held  ready  to  fight  the  enemy  if  he  should 
dare  venture  out  of  his  works.  A  weakness  in  the  enemy's  position 
had  been  developed,  of  which  advantage  might  be  taken,  but  that 
night  he  retreated  on  Smithfield,  leaving  his  pickets  to  be  taken  pris- 
oners, many  dead  unburied,  and  wounded  in  his  field  hospitals. 
Pursuit  was  made  on  the  morning  of  the  22nd,  two  miles  beyond 
Mill  creek,  but  was  then  stopped.  Our  loss  in  this  engagement  was 
1,646  killed,  wounded  and  missing.  The  enemy  left  267  dead  un- 
buried. and  1.625  prisoners.  For  a  more  detailed  account  of  the 
operations  of  the  brigade  and  regiment,  the  reader  will  please  to 
consult  the  reports  attached  to  this  history.  By  the  evening  of  the 
24th,  our  army  was  encamped  at  Goldsboro.  On  the  25th,  only  four 
days  after,  the  rail  road  from  Newbern  was  finished,  and  the  first 
train  of  cars  arrived,  bringing  ample  supplies  of  all  descriptions 
from  Morehead  City.  It  will  never  be  known  with  any  degree  of 
certainty,  the  amount  of  injury  done  the  enemy  in  this  campaign,  or 
the  quantity  of  guns,  and  materials  of  war,  destroyed.  We  had 
traveled  the  country  from  Savannah  to  Goldsboro,  with  an  average 
breadth  of  forty  miles,  and  had  consumed  all  the  forage,  cattle,  hogs 
sheep,  poultry,  bacon  and  corn  meal  that  lay  in  our  route.  The 
campaign  was  ended  on  the  2ist  day  of  March,  by  the  junction  of 
the  three  armies  and  the  occupation  of  Goldsboro.  We  went  into 
camp,  where  clothing,  and  supplies  were  issued  to  us  as  fast  as  they 
could  be  brought  up  from  the  coast. 


16 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

On  Monday  the  loth  of  April  all  preparations  were  completed 
for  our  further  advance.  On  the  nth  we  moved  out  of  camp  and 
marched  about  seven  miles,  and  on  the  next  day  the  i2th,  the  march 
began  in  earnest.  Foraging  was  continued  as  heretofore,  but  orders 
were  given  to  use  more  prudence,  and  not  go  in  advance  of  the  ad- 
vance guard,  but  to  look  more  to  the  right  rear  for  our  supplies  of 
corn  meal,  bacon,  etc.  Our  wing,  the  left,  was  to  aim  straight  for 
the  railroad  bridge  near  Smithfield,  thence  up  the  Neuse  river  to  the 
railroad  bridge  over  that  stream,  north  east  of  Raleigh,  then  to 
Warrenton  where  the  army  would  concentrate.  Johnston  had  his 
army  well  in  hand  about  Smithfield.  It  was  estimated  at  infantry 
and  artillery,  35,000;  cavalry  from  6,000  to  10,000.  We  pressed 
the  enemy  closely,  and  by  10  a.  m.  of  the  ijth,  our  corps  entered 
Smithfield  closely  followed  by  the  2oth.  Johnston  had  loaded 
his  trains  on  the  cars  and  retreated,  burning  the  bridge  over  the 
Neuse  river  at  Smithfield.  The  pontoons  were  brought  up  and  the 
crossing  of  the  army  commenced  without  resistance. 

Here  it  was  that  the  glorious  news  reached  us  that  Lee  had  sur- 
rendered his  army  to  General  Grant  at  Appomattox.  We  had 
arisen  at  the  usual  hour,  and  the  bugle  sounded  the  assembly,  when 
off  to  our  left  cannonading  and  shouting  were  heard  ;  we  could  not 
account  for  it,  what  did  it  mean  ?  A  staff  officer  of  our  brigade, 
with  an  orderly,  was  dispatched  to  find  out  what  was  the  meaning  of 
the  cannonading.  He  returned  with  the  startling  and  welcome  news 
that  Lee  had  surrendered.  We  could  hardly  believe  it,  and  finally 
concluded  it  was  a  camp  rumor,  but  our  doubts  were  soon  dispelled 
by  Capt.  Wiseman,  the  division  adjutant  general,  hastily  riding  up 
and  requesting  Col.  Langley,  in  command  of  the  brigade,  to  draw 
up  the  command  in  close  column  by  regiments.  The  request  was 
quickly  complied  with  and  he  then  proceeded  to  read  to  us  the  offi- 
cial announcement  of  the  surrender.  What  a  sight  was  then  wit- 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I.  123 

ntssed.  For  a  time  all  discipline  was  cast  aside  and  we  made  the 
pine  woods  ring  "  with  the  glad  tidings  of  great  joy."  The  artillery 
boys  had  seized  the  guns  of  the  battery  and  were  sending  forth  from 
the  grizzly  mouths  of  the  cannon,  round  after  round.  The  officers 
were  seized  and  carried  around  on  the  shoulders  of  the  men,  strong 
men  wept  and  embraced  each  other,  and  the  air  was  filled  with 
knapsacks  and  hats  flung  up  in  the  exuberance  of  our  joy.  We 
felt  as  if  the  war  was  over,  as  for  Johnston's  army  we  had  no  fear  of 
them,  for  we  knew  that  we  would  run  him  like  a  rat  to  his  hole,  be- 
fore many  days  would  pass.  Were  we  going  to  get  home  at  last  ? 
Was  the  cruel  war  over?  These  were  the  questions  asked  on  all 
sides.  We  moved  out  of  camp  that  morning  in  the  highest  possible 
spirits.  General  Sherman  issued  orders  to  drop  all  trains,  and  we 
marched  in  pursuit  of  Johnston  to  and  through  Raleigh,  the  capitol 
of  the  state,  reaching  that  place  on  the  morning  of  the  i3th.  Dur- 
ing the  next  two  days  the  cavalry  and  the  different  corps  were  pushed 
forward,  menacing  the  enemy  in  front,  flank  and  rear,  with  John- 
ston's army  retreating  rapidly  on  the  roads  from  Hillsboro  to 
Greensboro,  Johnston  himself  being  at  Greensboro.  Thus  matters 
stood  when  Gen.  Sherman  received  a  communication  from  Gen. 
Johnston,  requesting  an  armistice,  and  a  statement  of  the  best  terms 
on  which  he  would  be  permitted  to  surrender  the  army  under  his 
command.  To  this  Gen.  Sherman  promptly  returned  answer  : 

"  I  am  fully  empowered  to  arrange  with  you  any  terms  for  the 
suspension  of  the  hostilities,  as  between  the  armies  commanded  by 
you  and  those  commanded  by  myself,  and  am  willing  to  confer  with 
you  to  that  end.  That  a  base  of  action  may  be  had,  I  undertake 
to  abide  by  the  same  terms  and  conditions  entered  into  by  Gens. 
Grant  and  Lee,  at  Appomattox  court-house,  Virginia,  on  the  gth 
instant." 

These  pages  were  intended  to  be  a  history  or  record  of  a  single 
regiment  in  Sherman's  army,  but  as  it  is  intended,  also,  to  be  a  re- 
cord of  all  the  events  happening  to  that  portion  of  the  army  of 
which  our  regiment  was  a  part,  we  have  inserted  some  things  among 
our  pages  which  perhaps  may  not  seem  at  a  first  glance,  to  the 
reader,  to  be  pertinent  to  the  subject,  but  which  will,  we  trust,  on 
second  thought  be  considered  admissible.  We  have  followed  the 
fortunes  of  our  arms  from  Kentucky  through  Tennessee,  Georgia, 


124  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I. 

South  Carolina  and  North  Carolina,  and  before  we  arrive  at  home 
will  have  to  go  into  Virginia  and  the  District  of  Columbia,  so  from 
this  on  we  shall  record  events  as  they  happened,  without  considera- 
tion altogether  as  to  the  particular  movements  of  our  own  regiment, 
for  we  think  that  the  affairs  which  happened  in  such  close  succes- 
sion at  the  close  of  the  rebellion  are  all  matters  of  interest,  and 
should  always  be  kept  alive  in  the  memories  of  our  people,  showing 
how  a  great  rebellion  that  had  been  secretly  coming  to  a  head  for 
thirty  years  was  crushed,  the  perpetrators  of  it  allowed  to  live, 
through  the  magnanimity  of  our  government,  and  slavery  in  Ameri- 
ca forever  blotted  out ;  removing  from  our  national  banner  the 
odium  which  had  rested  on  it  by  this  foul  blot,  but  which  now  floats 
over  all  our  land  as  the  emblem  of  the  free,  and  respected  in  every 
port  and  harbor  of  the  known  world.  With  this  apology,  although 
we  do  not  think  it  will  be  deemed  necessary  by  our  readers,  we  will 
proceed  with  our  writing.  The  dispatch,  to  which  we  have  referred, 
from  some  cause  or  other  was  delayed,  and  Johnston's  answer  was 
not  received  until  late  in  the  day  of  the  i6th.  In  Johnston's  reply 
he  requested  an  interview  with  General  Sherman  near  Durham 
Station,  with  a  view  to  arranging  terms  of  capitulation.  General 
Sherman  fixed  the  time  for  the  interview  at  12  m.  on  the  i7th. 
The  meeting  was  held  according  to  appointment,  and  Johnston  ac 
knowledged  the  terms  to  be  fair  and  liberal,  but  asked  the  consid- 
eration of  additional  facts.  He  stated  that  the  treaty  between 
Gens.  Grant  and  Lee  had  reference  to  a  part  only  of  the  confederate 
forces,  whereas  he  proposed  the  present  agreement  should  include 
all  the  remaining  armies  of  the  rebels,  and  thus  the  war  should  be 
at  an  end.  He  frankly  admitted  that  the  cause  was  lost,  that  there 
was  no  longer  any  hopes  for  the  success  of  the  confederacy,  and 
that  slavery,  state  rights  and  every  other  cause  for  which  the  war 
had  been  inaugurated  was  lost,  never  to  be  recovered.  He  desired 
that  the  fragments  of  the  confederate  armies  might  preserve  their 
company  and  regimental  organizations,  and  be  marched  to  the 
states  where  they  belonged,  in  such  order,  to  prevent  their  being 
broken  up  into  predatory  bands  to  overrun  the  country  and  vex  the 
inhabitants  ;  that  this  was  a  favorable  occasion  to  inaugurate  the 
beginning  of  a  period  of  peace  and  good  will  between  the  people 


THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I.  125 

destined  to  live  under  the  same  government.  The  proposal  was  a 
most  flattering  one,  calculated  to  dazzle  the  mind  and  awaken  the 
pride  of  almost  any  man,  laying  claim  to  the  possession  of  the  most 
ordinary  ambition.  To  be  the  happy  instrument  of  bringing  again 
to  his  country,  so  long  devastated  with  violence,  rapine  and  death, 
the  glorious  boon  of  peace,  by  a  single  stroke  of  diplomacy,  was  of 
itself  sufficient  to  place  the  author  in  the  front  rank  with  the  greatest 
men  of  his  time,  and  hand  down  to  posterity  his  name  as  the  savior 
of  his  country.  Such  a  brilliant  vision  may  have  flitted  before  the 
mind  of  Sherman.  But  did  these  men  have  the  necessary  authority  ? 
Could  they  bind  their  government,  their  superiors,  to  such  terms  as 
they  might  arrange  between  themselves  ?  Gen.  Sherman  thought 
not,  but  Johnston  assured  him  that  having  the  rebel  secretary  of 
war,  Breckenridge,  with  him,  and  it  having  been  Mr.  Lincoln's  re- 
peated declaration,  that  he  was  willing  to  negotiate  a  peace  with 
any  person  who  could  control  the  rebel  armies,  he  saw  no  reason 
why  so  desirable  an  end  should  not  be  consummated,  and  asked 
that  the  conference  might  be  adjourned  over  until  the  next  day,  to 
enable  him  to  confer  with  Breckenridge.  This  was  agreed  on,  and 
the  conference  was  adjourned  until  the  next  day  at  12  m.  at  the 
same  place. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

On  the  lyth  of  April,  the  same  day  on  which  General  Sherman 
was  negotiating  with  Johnston  for  the  surrender  of  the  rebel  army 
then  under  his  command,  we  received  the  appalling  news  of  the  as- 
sassination of  our  beloved  president,  Abraham  Lincoln.  It  cast  a 
gloom  over  us  all,  and  to  say  that  our  hearts  were  saddened  by  the 


126  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.   V.   I. 

news,  would  express  the  sentiment  that  was  felt  in  too  meagre  terms. 
We  felt,  individually,  as  if  we  had  lost  a  near  and  dear  friend. 

Our  army  was  encamped,  as  we  have  before  stated,  on  the  south- 
ern bank  of  the  Neuse  river,  pending  negotiations,  of  which  we  were 
all  aware,  of  the  surrender  of  the  army  which  we  had  followed  sd 
long,  and  to  which  we  had  given  battle  on  many  a  bloody  field. 
But  now,  on  that  Sabbath  afternoon,  all  was  still,  no  noise  could  be 
heard,  and  if  one  had  not  known  that  a  large  army  was  encamped 
there,  they  never  would  have  suspected  it ;  the  silence  was  awful, 
men  spoke  to  each  other  with  bated  breath ;  the  glitter  of  the  eye, 
and  the  tension  of  the  mouth,  were  indications  that  were  terrible  to 
behold.  What !  after  all  our  marching,  after  all  our  fighting,  after 
all  the  hardships  and  privations  we  had  endured,  after  the  four  long 
years  of  bloody  war,  during  which  time  our  President  had  sat  in  the 
chair  of  State,  and  with  a  wisdom  never  excelled,  and  but  rarely 
equalled,  had  guided  the  Ship  of  State  aright,  after  all  this,  and  now 
that  the  blood  which  had  been  shed,  the  treasure  that  had  been  ex- 
pended, the  arduous  labors  which  we  had  undergone,  were  about  to 
be  rewarded  with  the  crown  of  victory,  was  he  not  to  welcome  his 
boys  home  again  ?  We  could  hardly  realize  it.  But  the  reaction 
came;  the  news  was  true,  and  it  was  the  feeling  in  e^ery  breast,  that 
vengence  on  the  people,  who.  by  their  mad  actions  had  brought  all 
this  trouble  on  us,  must  be  executed.  The  Neuse  river  only  lay  be- 
tween us  and  Johnston's  army,  it  would  have  been  a  matter  in  which 
our  army  would  have  rejoiced,  to  cross  the  river  and  wipe  those  men 
from  off  the  face  of  the  earth.  They  were  the  upholders  of  the 
cause  that  had  brought,  in  its  bloody  train,  the  assassination  of  our 
President,  and  blood  could  only  heal  the  sorrow  it  had  caused.  All 
that  was  needed  to  cause  the  slumbering  Volcano  to  pour  forth  its 
streams  of  devastation  and  woe,  was  some  leading  spirit  to  burst  the 
restraints  of  discipline,  and  the  beautiful  city  of  Raleigh  would  soon 
have  been  but  a  heap  af  blackened  ruins.  Such  were  the  feelings  of 
General  Sherman's  army  when  that  sad  news  first  fell  upon  us  like 
a  funeral  pall.  But  for  fear  of  an  outbreak,  orders  were  'issued  de- 
nying the  report,  and  it  was  so  horrible,  we  were  willing  to  believe 
it,  and  the  smothered  rage  cooled  down  to  unexecuted  threats.  At 
the  appointed  time  on  the  i8th.  negotiations  were  resumed  between 


THE    125TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I.  127 

Generals  Sherman  and  Johnston.  After  the  first  meeting  General 
Sherman  had  conferred  with  his  principal  officers,  all  of  whom  favor" 
ed  a  treaty  on  the  basis  proposed  by  Johnston,  and  General  Sher" 
man  himself  drew  up  the  following  memoranda  or  basis  of  agree- 
ment: 

"  Memoranda  or  basis  of  agreement  made  this  1 8th  Hay  of  April, 
A.  D.  1865,  near  Durham's  station,  in  the  State  of  North  Carolina, 
by  and  between  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  commanding  the  Con- 
federate army,  and  Major  General  William  T.  Sherman,  command- 
ing the  army  of  the  United  States  in  North  Carolina,  both  present. 

First.  The  contending  armies  now  in  the  field,  to  maintain  their 
statu  quo  until  notice  is  given  by  the  commanding  general  of  either 
one  to  his  opponent,  and  reasonable  time,  say  forty-eight  hours,  al- 
lowed. 

Second.  The  confederate  armies  now  in  existence  to  be  disband- 
ed, and  conducted  to  the  several  state  capitols,  there  to  deposit  their 
arms  and  public  property  in  the  state  arsenal,  and  each  officer  and 
man  to  execute  and  file  an  agreement  to  cease  from .  acts  of  war, 
and  abide  the  action  of  both  state  and  federal  authorities.  The 
number  of  arms  and  munitions  of  war  to  be  reported  to  the  Chief 
of  Ordnance,  at  Washington  City,  subject  to  future  action  of  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States,  and  in  the  mean  time  to  be  used 
so'ely  to  maintain  order  within  the  borders  of  the  states  respectively. 

Third.  The  recognition  by  the  Executive  of  the  United  States 
of  the  several  state  governments,  on  their  officers  and  legislatures 
taking  the  oath  prescribed  by  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
and  when  conflicting  state  governments  have  resnlted  from  the  war, 
the  legitimacy  of  all  shall  be  submitted  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 
United  States. 

Fourth.  The  re-establishment  of  all  Federal  Courts  in  the  sev- 
eral states,  with  powers  as  defined  by  the  Constitution  and  laws  of 
Congress. 

Fifth.  The  people,  and  inhabitants  of  all  the  states  to  be  guar- 
anteed, so  far  as  the  executive  can,  their  political  rights  and  fran- 
chise, as  well  as  their  rights  of  person  and  property,  as  defined  by 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  states  respectively. 

Sixth.  The  Executive  authority  of  the  Government  of  the  Uni- 
ted States,  not  to  distrurb  any  of  the  people  by  reason  of  the  late 
war,  so  long  as  they  live  in  peace  and  quiet,  abstain  from  acts  of 
armed  hostility,  and  obey  laws  in  existence  at  any  place  of  their  res- 
idence. 

Seventh.  In  general  terms,  war  to  cease,  and  a  general  amnesty, 
so  far  as  the  Executive  power  of  the  United  States  can  command, 


128  THE    I25TH    REGIMENT    I.   V.    I. 

or  on  condition  of  disbandment  of  the  Confederate  armies,  and  the 
distribution  of  arms,  and  resumption  of  peaceful  pursuits  by  officers 
and  men  as  hitherto  composing  the  said  armies.  Not  being  fully 
empowered  by  our  own  respective  principals  to  fulfill  these  terms, 
we  individually  and  officially  pledge  ourselves  to  promptly  obtain 
necessary  authority,  and  to  carry  out  the  above  programme. 

(Signed)  W.  T.  SHERMAN. 
Maj.  Gen.  Comd'g  Army  of  the  U.  S.  in  N.  C. 
(Signed)  J.  E.  JOHNSTON. 

General  Comd'g  C.  S.  Army  in  N.  C. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

This  memoranda  was  satisfactory  to  all  present  at  the  conference, 
as  a  proposition  to  be  forwarded  by  special  messenger  to  the  Presi- 
dent, who  called  a  special  meeting  of  the  Cabinet  to  take  it  into 
consideration.  The  cabinet  at  once  rejected  it.  This  disapproval 
was  communicated  to  General  Sherman  by  General  Grant,  who  was 
ordered  by  the  President  to  proceed  immediately  to  the  headquar- 
ters of  General  Sherman,  and  direct  operations  against  the  enemy. 
The  dispatch  was  received  by  General  Sherman  on  the  morning  of 
the  24th,  and  he  immediately  gave  notice  to  General  Johnston  as 
follows  :  "  You  will  take  notice  that  the  truce,  or  suspension  of  hos- 
tilities, agreed  to  between  us  on  the  i8th  instant,  will  close  in  forty- 
eight  hours  after  this  is  received  at  your  lines."  He  also  wrote  Gen. 
Johnston  at  the  same  time :  "  I  have  replies  from  Washington  to  my 
communication  of  the  i8th.  I  am  instructed  to  limit  my  operations 
to  your  immediate  command,  and  not  attempt  civil  negotiations,  I, 
therefore,  demand  the  surrender  of  your  army,  on  the  same  terms  as 
were  given  to  General  Lee,  at  Appomattox  Court  House,  Va.,  the 
9th  of  April,  instant,  purely  and  simply."  Within  an  hour  after  the 


THE    I25TH    REGIMENT   I.    V.    I.  129 

reception  of  General  Grant's  dispatch,  a  courier  was  riding  rapidly 
with  this  notice  and  demand  upon  General  Johnston.  Gen.  Sher- 
man also  issued  orders  to  the  army  to  be  in  readiness  to  march  at 
12  m.  of  the  26th,  on  the  routs  previously  described. 

These  arrangements  were  already  made  when  General  Grant  ar- 
rived at  Raleigh.  He  informed  General  Sherman  that  he  had  orders 
from  the  President  to  direct  all  military  movements,  but  that  he  was 
so  well  pleased  with  the  situation,  that  he  concluded  not  to  inter- 
fere, and  would  leave  the  execution  of  the  arrangements  already 
made,  to  General  Sherman.  And  now,  comrade,  whoever  you  may 
be,  who  read  these  pages,  what  do  you  think  ?  This  book  is  not 
written  for  any  political  purpose,  not  in  the  least.  We  are  writing 
about  the  times  that  are  past  and  gone ;  about  the  days  when  we 
marched  side  by  side  together  through  the  land  of  the  cotton  and 
the  cane.  When  our  glory  and  our  pride  was  "  Uncle  Billy,"  whom 
we  would  have  followed  to  the  end,  wherever  that  may  have  been, 
and  you  know  it.  He  had  been  our  guiding  star  in  God's  hands. 
Under  him  we  had  gone  through  campaigns  only  equalled,  but  never 
excelled,  in  the  annals  of  war,  and  now,  on  the  eve  of  the  consu- 
mation  of  our  labors,  the  "  laurel  wreath  "  was  to  be  snatched  from 
his  brow,  and  instead  of  being  permitted  to  execute  the  will  of  the 
government  as  determined  upon  by  the  administration,  he  was  to  see 
another  placed  in  the  position  which  by  right  was  his.  It  seemed 
hardly  fair  then,  and  even  at  this  late  day,  we  cannot  think  it  was. 
We  are  no  politician,  we  are  not  learned  in  the  mysteries,  the  devil- 
ments, and  the  general  cussedness  of  state  intrigue,  but  we  say  that 
W.  T.  Sherman  was  the  grandest  man  that  ever  led  an  army  of  the 
United  States,  or  any  other  country,  and  he  showed  his  granduer 
and  his  nobility  by  brushing  to  one  side,  as  he  would  the  passing 
wing  of  a  mosquieto,  the  hint  of  incapacity  that  was  sought  to  be 
fastened  on  him  by  those  grand  and  mighty  warriors,  who,  in  their 
cushion  bottomed  chairs  at  Washington,  dared  for  one  instant  to  in- 
sinuate, that  it  was  they  who  had  guided  us  through  the  brake,  and 
through  the  swamps,  from  the  hillsides  of  Kentucky,  to  the  walls  of 
Richmond,  by  their  orders  to  our  general  and  our  leader.  But  we 
knew  only  Sherman.  God  bless  him,  wherever  he  may  be.  He  is 
a  hero  and  a  nobleman,  not  by  a  long  line  of  ancestral  descent,  per- 

17 


130  THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 

haps,  but  by  that  God  given  inspiration  that  makes  him  so.  We  be- 
lieve that  our  comrades  of  former  days,  feel  with  us  an  intense  loy- 
alty to  William  Tecumseh  Sherman,  a  true  patriot  whom  the  tinsel, 
and  the  glare,  of  worldly  intrigues,  could  not  swerve  from  the  path 
of  duty.  Excuse  us,  dear  reader,  for  this  little  variation,  this  view 
that  we  may  have  given  you  to  the  secret  chamber  of  our  heart,  we 
can  not  help  it,  we  love  the  man  of  whom  we  have  been  writing, 
and  the  honor  of  having  been  a  soldier  under  his  command,  will  be 
one  which  our  children's  children,  as  they  come  after  us,  can  reflect 
upon  with  pride  and  glory.  But  we  have  forgotten,  it  seems  to  us. 
who  we  are,  we  have  been  talking  to  you  about  an  individual,  the 
most  glorious — stop — we  will  wait  until  to  morrow  to  goon  with  our 
work,  we  must  not  forget  the  humble  position  we  occupy,  that  of  giv- 
ing to  you  a  record  of  our  lives  as  an  army  organization. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

The  bearer  of  General  Sherman's  message  was  an  unwelcome 
visitor  at  the  headquarters  of  Gen.  Johnston.  Johnston  was  power- 
less. He  could  neither  fight  nor  retreat,  his  army  was  deserting  him 
hourly.  Already  more  than  ten  thousand  of  his  followers  had  left 
him,  with  their  guns,  horses,  mules  and  wagons.  He  must  either 
disperse  his  army  or  surrender  it  on  the  terms  proposed  by  Gen. 
Sherman  on  the  25th.  He  invited  Sherman  to  another  conference, 
with  a  view  to  surrender.  Gen.  Grant  being  the  ranking  officer, 
then  present,  it  was  his  province  to  take  the  lead  in  the  negotiations, 
but  he  preferred  that  the  entire  business  should  be  consummated  by 
Gen.  Sherman.  Write  it  down  in  letters  of  gold,  that  there  was 
one  man,  at  least,  at  those  times,  who  was  a  man  by  nature,  and 
carried  a  man's  heart  in  his  bosom.  Thank  God  !  that  in  our  day 


THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I.  13! 

and  generation,  we  do  stumble  across  men,  although  farther  apart 
than  many  mile  stones,  who  are  willing  to  give  "  the  spoils  to  the 
victor."  Accordingly  another  interview  was  arranged  to  take  place 
at  the  hour  designated  for  the  termination  of  the  truce.  Final  terms 
were  conducted  at  this  conference,  substantially  the  same  as  given 
to  Lee,  and  the  second  grand  army  of  the  cotton  aristocracy  was 
surrendered  to  the  United  States.  The  number  of  men  surrendered 
and  paroled  was  in  the  neighborhood  of  25,000  ;  108  pieces  of  ar- 
tillery were  parked,  with  limbers,  caissons,  etc.,  complete  ;  little  am- 
munition was  captured.  About  15,000  small  arms  were  given  up. 
On  the  26th  day  of  April,  1865,  the  surrender  of  the  last  rebel  or- 
ganization was  effected,  peace  brought  to  the  land,  and  the  horrible 
war,  which  was  conceived  in  sin  and  brought  forth  in  iniquity,  was 
over.  Fellow  soldiers,  you  who  wore  the  gray,  shake  hands,  you 
were  brave  boys,  you  were  brought  into  this  unholy  and  unrighteous 
war  by  men  who  were  so  unscrupulous  as  to  the  means  whereby 
they  attained  their  ambitious  projects,  that  your  heart's  blood  was 
but  as  water  in  their  sight.  All  honor  to  your  dead,  your  valor,  and 
your  bravery.  To  your  leaders,  to  the  men  who  by  their  specious 
talk  and  winsome  flattery  moved  you  to  the  struggle,  we  have  noth- 
ing to  say,  leaving  to  the  God  of  nations  and  of  worlds  their  record. 
He  in  His  own  good  time  will  settle  with  every  one  for  the  "deeds 
done  in  the  body,  whether  they  be  good  or  whether  they  be  evil. 

Well,  for  us  the  war  was  over,  and  like  Othello,  "  our  occupation 
was  gone."  By  easy  marches  we  at  last  reached  Richmond,  the 
"  city  of  the  hills."  that  like  ancient  Rome,  as  thought  the  hearts  of 
many  of  her  citizens,  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  "  should  rule 
the  world."  And  as  we  marched  through  her  streets  the  thought 
came  into  our  mind  why  "  we  are  Romans."  It  was  but  a  momen- 
tary thought,  that  we  came  as  conquerors,  and  was  soon  swept  from 
our  minds  by  the  idea  that  we  were  merely  a  large  body  of  police. 
There  had  been  a  big  riot,  the  biggest  kind  of  a  fuss,  and  we  had 
come  to  bring  the  offenders  to  justice,  and  that  was  the  end  of  it. 
Brothers  and  comrades,  is  that  all  of  it  ?  No  !  comes  up  the  voice 
of  the  century.  Do  you  call  the  striking  of  the  fetters  from  off  4,- 
000,000  slaves  nothing?  Do  you  call  the  blotting  out  of  our  chil- 
dren's school  atlases  the  "  Mason  and  Dixon's  line,"  which  they 


132  THE    I25TH    REGIMENT    I.   V.    I. 

used  to  read  there  and  wonder  what  it  meant,  nothing  ?  Do  you 
call  the  establishment  of  our  government  and  free  institutions  on  a 
rock  as  firm  as  the  "  Rock  of  Ages,"  nothing  ?  Do  you  call  the 
evidence  we  have  given  to  the  world,  that  we  are  a  free  and  en- 
lightened people,  nothing  ?  Hold  on,  let  us  rest  at  that  a  moment. 
The  war  did  amount  to  something,  didn't  it,  you  old  hard-tack  eater. 
Shake  hands  over  the  trouble  and  thank  God  that  we  are  home  at 
last. 

We  are  almost  done  now,  we  have  come  all  the  way  from  Dan- 
ville, Illinois,  through  Kentucky,  with  her  neutrality  ;  through  Ten- 
nessee^ with  her  splendid  water,  apple-jack  and  loyalty  in  the  east- 
ern part,  but  the  middle  and  western  were  bad  ;  through  Georgia, 
with  her  rice,  and  pea-nuts ;  through  South  Carolina,  with  her 
sweet-potatoes  :  through  North  Carolina,  with  her  tobacco  and  tar  ; 
through  Virginia,  with  her  clay  hills  and  murmering  waters,  until  we 
have  at  last  arrived  at  Washington  with  her  red  tape  and  capitol 
airs,  but,  all  the  same,  the  seat  of  government  of  the  United  States 
of  America,  the  land  of  the  free  and  of  the  oppressed.  But  we 
will  stop,  we  hear  some  one  calling  to  us  to  pull  that  eagle  in.  We 
obey,  as  a  good  soldier  always  does.  After  taking  part  in  the  grand 
review  at  Washington,  our  regiment  "  struck  tents"  for  the  last  time 
and  went  to  Chicago. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

The  Saturday  after  we  arrived  there,  we  marched  down  to  Union 
hall  about  1 1  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  took  up  position  in  front 
of  the  orchestra.  After  the  band  of  the  Veteran  Reserve  Corps  had 
discoursed  some  of  their  sweetest  music,  we  were  addressed  by  T. 
B.  Bryan,  Esq.,  president  of  the  Soldier's  Home,  and  of  the  execu- 


THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I.  133 

live  committee  of  the  great  sanitary  fair.  Mr.  Bryan  said  it  was  his 
privilege  in  the  name  of  the  city  and  the  sanitary  fair,  to  welcome 
us  most  cordially  and  sincerely.  As  he  was  to  be  followed  by  their 
distinguished  commander,  there  was  no  need  for  him  to  speak  of  our 
noble  deeds.  He  wanted  us,  however,  to  understand  that  the  men 
and  women  of  Chicago  were  equal  to  those  of  any  other  city  in 
earnest  and  hearty  love  for  the  soldier.  Whatever  disaffected  peo- 
ple might  say  to  the  contrary,  we  would  find  that  the  women  of  this 
city,  had  toiled  as  no  other  women  had  ever  toiled,  to  sustain  and 
cheer,  to  comfort  and  support,  the  soldier.  If  regiments  had  at  any 
time  come  here  unnoticed  and  unknown,  it  had  been  from  no  fault 
of  theirs.  He  would  now  introduce  to  us  our  old  and  tried  com- 
mander, General  Sherman.  The  announcement  was  received  with 
great  applause,  which  increased  as  the  General  stepped  to  the  front. 
General  Sherman  then  addressed  us  as  follows: 

"  FELLOW  SOLDIERS  :  I  regret  that  it  has  fallen  to  my  task  to 
speak  to  you,  because  I  would  rather  that  others  should  do  what  is 
most  common  to  them,  and  less  so  to  me.  But,  my  fellow  soldiers, 
it  gives  me  pleasure  to  assure  you  that  what  the  president  of  this 
fair  has  told  you  just  now,  is  true  ;  that  a  hearty  welcome  awaits 
you  wherever  you  go.  Many  people  think  you  want  bread  and  meat, 
but  your  faces  and  my  knowledge  tell  me  that  you  prefer  the  waving 
of  handkerchiefs  and  the  applause  of  the  people,  to  all  the  bread 
and  meat  that  fills  the  warehouses  of  Chicago  (cheers).  Those  sol- 
diers who  are  now  before  me,  know  where  bread  and  meat  can  and 
will  be  found  (laughter).  All  we  ask,  and  all  we  have  ever  asked,  is 
a  silent  and  generous  acknowledgement  of  our  services,  when  ren- 
dered in  the  cause  of  our  country.  And  fellow  soldiers,  when  you 
get  home  among  those  who  will  interest  you  more  than  any  thing  I 
can  say,  just  call  back  to  mind  where  you  were  twelve  months  ago. 
You  remember  Kenesaw  Peak,  and  the  Little  Kenesaw.  It  is  not 
a  year  since  you  stormed  them,  and  lost  my  old  partner  and  friend, 
Dan.  McCook.  That  was  on  the  2yth  day  of  June,  1864.  In  June, 
1865,  you  stand  in  the  midst  of  Chicago,  surrounded  by  bright  col- 
ors and  ladies  and  children.  Then  you  were  lying  in  the  mud,  the 
rocks  and  the  dirt,  and  you  knew  there  was  an  enemy  we  had  to 
fight  with  and  conquor,  and  we  did  not  exactly  know  how  to  do  it 
(laughter).  But  we  were  patient ;  we  reconnoitered  ;  we  watched 
their  flanks ;  we  studied  the  ground,  and  in  three  days  we  had  John- 
ston and  his  whole  army,  pinned  ;  he  retired,  and  we  did  not  give 
him  a  chance  of  stopping  untill  he  had  put  the  Chattahoochie  be- 
tween us  and  him.  That  is  a  lesson  for  you.  Temporary  defeat  is 


134  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 

nothing  when  a  man  is  determined  to  succeed.  You  are  not  con- 
quered, you  never  can  be  conqu  ered  when  the  mind  is  clear  and  de- 
termined in  its  purpose  ;  you  must  succeed,  no  temporary  defeat  can 
cause  failure.  You  all  remember  that  on  the  fourth  of  July  we 
stood  close  to  each  other,  and  we  told  them  then  that  they 
would  have  to  go  farther  than  Atlanta,  for  we  should  continue  to  go 
on  (cheers).  You  will  remember  how  their  pickets  told  us  they  had 
reinforcements.  Yes.  but  what  ?  They  had  one  of  our  corps — 
Schofield's  (laughter).  Before  General  Johnston  knew,  or  dreamed 
of  it,  I  had  reinforced  his  side  of  the  Chattahoochie,  by  Gen.  Scho- 
field's 23rd  corps.  From  this,  my  fellow  soldiers,  I  want  you  to 
learn  the  lesson,  no  matter  where  you  are,  to-day  or  to-morrow,  by 
keeping  a  purpose  close  in  your  mind,  in  the  end  you  will  succeed, 
whether  it  be  in  military, civil,  social,or  family  affairs.  Let  no  difficulty 
appal  you.  let  no  check  alarm  you,  let  your  purpose  in  life  be  clear 
and  steadfast,  keep  in  view  the  object  and  design  of  your  life,  and 
just  as  sure  as  you  are  now  before  me  in  health  and  strength  you 
will  succeed.  You  are  now  returned  to  your  homes,  and  the  task 
now  allotted  to  you  is  that  of  the  future.  The  past  is  disposed  of, 
it  may  soon  be  forgotten  ;  but  the  future  is  before  you.  and  that  fu- 
ture will  be  more  glorious  than  the  past.  Look  at  your  own  state 
of  Illinois,  look  at  the  city  of  Chicago,  it  is  hardly  as  old  as  any  of 
you,  for  twenty-five  years  ago  a  little  military  garrison  was  here,  a 
two  company  post,  and  now  it  is  a  city  of  palaces,  of  streets,  rail 
roads,  etc.  You,  the  men  of  a  city  almost  the  second  in  the  United 
States  of  America,  are  to  assist  in  directing  the  affairs  of  this  coun- 
try. You  have  the  patience  and  industry,  and  more  than  that,  you 
have  organization,  discipline  and  drill,  and  if  I  have  been  instru- 
mental in  teaching  you  this,  in  maintaining  discipline,  order  and 
good  government  in  the  army  which  I  have  had  the  honor  to  com- 
mand, I  am  contented  ;  for  on  this  system,  and  on  this  high  tone  of 
honor  which  pervades  your  minds,  must  be  built  the  empire  of 
America  (loud  cheers).  I  did  not  wish  to  address  you, .but  I  believe 
there  are  no  others  here  who  desire  to  speak,  and  therefore  I  ask  you 
to  accept  what  is  given  in  heartiness,  a  full,  joyous  welcome  home  to 
Chicago.  I  know  it  is  genuine,  for  I  myself  have  experienced  it. 
Feel  you  are  at  home,  and  that  there  are  no  more  rebels,  no  more 
raking  fire,  no  more  shot,  but  that  you  have  done  with  them  forever. 
Good  morning." 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  speech  there  was  loud  and  long  continu- 
ed cheering. 

Colonel  Langley  replied  as  follows: 

"  I  can.  assure  you  in  behalf  of  the  Illinois  regiment  before  you, 
that  your  welcome,  the  welcome  of  the  people  of  Chicago  and  of 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I.  135 

the  people  of  the  state  of  Illinois,  is  fully  appreciated  by  these  sol- 
diers now  returned  home.  They  have,  to  some  extent,  known  the 
good  to  be  derived  from  such  associations  and  organizations  as  the 
sanitary  commission,  and  I  believe  that  no  city  in  the  union  has 
shown  a  deeper  interest  or  more  generous  feeling  toward  the  pri- 
vate soldier  in  the  ranks,  than  has  the  city  of  Chicago.  It  seemed 
to  be  her  chief  purpose  to  secure  to  the  soldier  all  those  comforts 
so  essential  to  his  recovery  from  a  bed  of  sickness,  and  from  wounds 
received  in  battle,  and  the  result  of  this  kindness  is  that  your  offer- 
ings sent  out  to  them  have  always  been  duly  appreciated,  and  the 
heart  has  swelled  with  gratitude  toward  the  kind  and  loyal  people 
who  have  remembered  the  soldier  in  his  distress.  It  ill  befits  me, 
who  has  been  in  the  field  for  the  last  three  years,  to  make  a  speech, 
but  in  a  blunt  soldier  way  will  speak  of  these  brave  boys.  This 
regiment  now  before  you  I  have  had  the  honor  to  command.  I 
have  known  the  men  composing  it  for  a  long  time  ;  they  are  the 
sterling  men  of  the  country.  My  long  acquaintance  with  them  en- 
ables me  to  say,  that  never  were  there  braver  soldiers  sent  into  bat- 
tle against  the  enemy  (cheers).  Out  of  four  Illinois  regiments  in  the 
3rd  brigade,  2nd  division,  i4th  army  corps,  they  were  one.  They 
were  engaged  first  in  the  battle  of  Perryville  in  about  three  weeks 
after  entering  the  service.  Then  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga ; 
against  Mission  Ridge,  and  again  in  the  different  skirmishes  near 
Buzzard's  Roost  Gap.  And  on  the  zyth  of  June,  1864,  the  time 
to  which  General  Sherman  alluded,  they  made  a  deadly  and  fearful 
assault  against  the  enemy's  works  on  Kenesaw  Mountain,  and  failed, 
but  they  did  not  turn  their  backs  on  the  enemy  and  run.  Instead 
of  retreating,  they  took  to  their  spades,  and,  within  sixty-two  feet  of 
the  enemy,  threw  up  intrenchments,  and  from  there,  with  their  sharp- 
shooters, at  last  drove  out  the  enemy.  Again  at  Jonesboro,  they  as- 
saulted the  same  men  we  failed  to  drive  out  at  Kenesaw  Mountain. 
They  were  driven'out  and  captured  at  Jonesboro,  and  thus  secured 
the  capture  of  Atlanta.  They  have  endured  as  much  of  marching, 
did  as  much  'campaigning,  took  as  many  chickens,  hams,  and  other 
things,  as  any  regiment  (laughter).  And  they  have  been  able  to 
consume  as  much  as  any  ;  for  by  casting  your  eye  over  them,  you 
will  see  that  they  are  men  of  strength  and  capable  of  devouring  a 
good  deal  of  South  Carolina  subsistence  (renewed  laughter).  Let 
me  assure  you  that  these  men  have  a  home  interest  which  will  de- 
mand of  them  their  earnest,  sensible  attention,  of  which  fact  they 
need  not  be  advised,  and  when  they  return  to  their  homes  you  will 
find  many  of  them  who  did  not  claim  any  particular  high  standing 
in  society  before,  will  rank  now  above  many  who  remained  at  home 
to  preserve  their  morals  (laughter).  They  will  go  home  and  return 
to  their  former  avocations  in  life,  and  pursue  them  with  an  energy 


136  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I. 

and  industry  proportioned  to  the  love  they  exemplified  for  the  coun- 
try they  so  long,  so  ably  and  so  well  defended. 

I  assure  you  again  that  the  cordial  and  sincere  welcome  which 
you  have  tendered  us,  is  heartily  appreciated,  and  in  behalf  of  the 
regiment,  I  thank  you,  and  all  those  who  have  aided  in  the  kind 
welcome  extended  to  them." 

The  proceedings  ended  with  three  cheers  for  the  regiment,  and 
three  for  General  Sherman.  We  then  marched  to  Bryan  hall,  after 
which  we  repaired  to  the  Soldier's  Rest  for  dinner,  and  then  march- 
ed back  to  camp  Douglass. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

Here  we  were  mustered  out  of  the  service  and  paid  off  on  the 
3oth  day  of  June,  1865,  this  we  learn  from  our  old  discharge,  and 
we  also  read  on  that  piece  of  imitation  parchment  (no  objection  to 
his  being  re-enlisted  is  known  to  exist),  but  may  the  good  God,  who 
has  guided  us  through  this  struggle,  who  inspired  our  leaders,  and 
finally  gave  us  this  victory,  grant  that  there  may  never  be  any  more 
need  of  our  services  as  soldiers,  unless  it  may  be  to  defend  the  land 
which  gave  us  birth,  from  some  foreign  invader.  Comrades  of  com- 
panies A,  B,  C,  D,  E,  F,  G,  H,  I  and  K,  fare  you  well,  and  may 
God  bless  you.  We  have  together  trod  the  weary  road  which,  with 
so  many  other  boys  like  ourselves,  has  led  us  back  at  last  to  home 
and  peace.  The  way  at  times  was  dark  and  dreary,  the  clouds  hung 
low  and  black.  We  missed  ever  and  anon  from  our  sides  the  forms 
of  those  we  loved,  and  with  whom  we  had  held  daily  converse,  but 
they  are  gone,  and  the  stately  pines  of  the  southern  part  of  our 
land  sing  a  refrain  over  their  graves.  Some  of  their  resting  places 
we  are  ignorant  of ;  they  died  amid  the  fury  and  the  smoke  of  battle, 
but  thank  God  their  souls  still  live,  and  he  who  lays  down  his  life 


THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I.  137 

for  his  friend  is  only  imitating  the  example  set  by  the  Great  Master. 
If  I  have  written  anything  in  these  recollections  of  our  army  life 
that  is  in  the  least  hurtful  to  any  one's  feelings,  if  I  have  in  any 
way  at  all  harmed  you,  forgive  me,  for  such  has  not  been  my  inten- 
tion, and  knowing  me  as  many  of  you  do,  I  trust  you  will  believe 
what  I  tell  you  about  this  part  of  it.  And  now  with  a  heartfelt  de- 
sire that  when  your  camp-fires  burn  low,  as  God  grant  they  never 
may,  and  your  three  days  rations  run  out  long  before  the  time,  as 
they  used  sometimes  to  do  while  we  were  on  the  march  together, 
come  over  to  my  fire  and  thrust  your  hands  into  my  haversack,  and 
if  by  chance  it  should  prove  to  be  empty,  I  will  order  out  my  detail, 
for  I  have  got  them  now,  comrades,  and  forage  for  you  till  your 
wants  are  all  supplied.  Good-by  and  may  God  bkss  you. 
Aon  nobis  !  Domine  non  nobis  !  sed  nomine  tuo  da  Gloriam. 


ROME. 

Leaving  the  main  army  at  Resaca  our  brigade  moved  off  in  the 
direction  of  Rome,  Ga.,  which  lays  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Coosa 
river.  The  work  on  which  we  were  ostensibly  to  be  engaged,  was 
the  repairing  of  certain  railroad  bridges.  But  whether  this  work 
was  absolutely  to  be  done,  or  whether  our  march  was  but  a  "  blind," 
we  do  not  know,  at  any  rate  we  took  up  our  line  of  march  for  that 
purpose,  but  had  not  begun  work  on  the  bridges,  before  orders  came 
to  move  with  all  possible  speed.  We  reached  the  city  of  Rome 
late  one  afternoon.  The  rebel  army  was  found  drawn  up  in  line  of 
battle,  but  our  fellows  with  cheer  and  shout  charged  their  lines,  driv- 
ing them  across  the  river  and  out  of  the  town.  Here  we  went  into 
camp  for  a  few  days.  Rome  is  a  pretty  town,  and  had  been  the 
center  of  a  good  deal  of  business  before  the  war,  but  now  all  was 
changed.  Provost  guards  were  immediately  detailed  to  preserve  or- 
der, but  in  spite  of  all  this  the  boys,  with  the  instinctive  love  of 
r8 


138  THE    I25TH    REGIMENT    I.  V.    I. 

foraging  that  animates  a  soldier  while  in  the  enemy's  country,  man- 
aged to  obtain  many  luxuries  in  the  shape  of  tobacco,  etc.  We  got 
possession  of  the  theater,  a  minstrel  company  was  formed  and 
several  entertainments  given,  the  admission  fee  being  twenty-five 
cents.  The  theater  was  crowded  nightly,  and  the  entertainment 
was  much  better  than  we  have  witnessed  at  other  places  with  better 
facilities.  The  bank  was  also  occupied,  but  nothing  of  course  was 
found  excepting  sheets  of  confederate  money  just  printed,  appar- 
antly,  but  not  signed.  Some  of  the  boys  went  to  work  filling  them 
out,  putting  down  the  names  of  "  Timothy  Fitzpoodelle,"  as  presi- 
dent, and  "Johnny  Cometalety"  for  cashier,  or  any  name  which 
would  come  into  their  heads.  These  confederate  bills  were  passed 
by  many  of  our  boys  on  the  citizens  afterwards  for  such  things  as 
they  wanted,  the  citizens  taking  them  for  genuine,  and  indeed  they 
were  as  good  as  any  of  the  balance  of  the  confederate  money. 
Some  fellows  got  into  the  printing  office,  and,  being  printers  by 
trade  when  at  home,  issued  a  newspaper  filled  with  spread  eagle  edi- 
torials, and  exhorting  the  editor  and  owner  of  the  property  to  come 
back  to  the  union  and  give  up  the  cause  of  secession.  These 
papers  were  intensely  loyal,  as  might  be  supposed,  and  were  in  all 
probability,  as  they  were  intended  they  should  be,  very  disgusting  to 
the  chivalry.  Here  also  we  were  shown  the  hotel,  a  square,  two- 
story  brick  building,  from  the  upper  verandah  of  which  the  rebels 
exhibited  Mrs.  Dr.  Mary  Walker  to  the  shouting  and  yelling  crowd 
in  the  street  below,  whom  they  had  captured  a  short  time  previously. 
But  Atlanta  was  the  cry,  and  so  one  bright  morning  we  left  Rome 
with  its  pleasant  memories  behind  us. 


A  CONFEDERATE    CHRISTMAS. 

The  following  is  an  account  of  a  Christmas  dinner  held  under  the 
rule  of  the  confederate  government  in  1861.      The  individual  who 


THE    I25TH    REGIMENT   I.    V.    I.  139 

helped  to  celebrate  the  day,  herewith  gives  the  testimony  which  en- 
ables us  to  set  before  you,  what  Christmas  meant  in  those  days,  and 
what  it  cost  : 

"The  dinner  of  1861,"  he  says,  "  did  not  differ  materially  from  its 
predecessors  in  the  'piping  times  of  peace,'  and  though  in  1862  the 
feast  was  home-made,  it  was  enjoyable.  Turkeys  were  only  eleven 
dollars  a  piece,  and  salt  had  fallen  to  thirty-three  cents  a  pound. 
The  yule  log  was  attainable  at  fifteen  dollars  per  cord  ;  wines  were 
to  be  had  by  the  very  rich,  and  sorghum  rum,  or  apple,  peach,  or 
black-berry  brandy,  cost  thirty  dollars  a  gallon.  A  few  toys  were  left 
in  the  stores  in  the  cities,  and  fire-crackers,  essential  to  the  southern 
festival,  were  five  dollars  a  pack.  By  1863,  the  closest  search  of 
Santa  Glaus  revealed  no  play-things,  and  fire-crackers  indicated 
great  wealth,  or  reckless  extravagance.  The  few  turkeys  in  the  mar- 
ket were  forty  and  fifty  dollars  a  piece  ;  whisky,  or  sorghum  rum,  for 
egg-nog,  cost  seventy-five  or  eighty  dollars  per  gallon  ;  sugar  was 
five  and  ten  dollars  a  pound,  and  flour  one  hundred  and  twenty  five 
dollars  per  barrel.  With  gold  at  2,800,  a  plain  Christmas  dinner  for 
a  large  family,  cost  two  or  three  hundred  dollars.  In  1864,  when 
Christmas  fell  on  Sunday,  gold  was  at  5,000  :  flour  was  six  hundred 
dollars  per  barrel ;  sugar,  two  dollars  an  ounce ;  salt,  one  dollar  a 
pound  ;  butter,  forty  dollars  ;  beef,  thirty-five  to  forty  dollars  ;  wood, 
was  one  hundred  dollars  a  cord.  A  Christmas  dinner  at  a  country 
house,  near  Richmond,  is  described  thus :  The  four  gentleman  were 
in  uniform,  the  three  ladies  in  home  spun.  They  had  for  dinner  a 
three  hundred  dollar  ham  and  the  last  turkey  on  the  plantation,  val- 
ued at  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars,  with  one  hundred  dol- 
lars worth  of  cabbage,  potatoes  and  hominy.  Corn  bread  was  serv- 
ed, made  of  meal  at  eighty  dollars  a  bushel,  and  salt  at  one  dollar  a 
pound.  The  desert  was  black  molasses  at  sixty  dollars  a  gallon,  and 
after  a  cup  of  tea,  real  tea,  worth  one  hundred  dollars  a  pound, 
treasured  up  for  the  occasion,  as  a  surprise,  and  not  sassafras  ;  there 
was  coffee  at  discretion  made  from  sweet  potatoes  cut  into  little 
squares,  toasted  and  ground  down. 


BAD  MEAT. 

While  in  camp  at  Nashville,  at  one  time,  the  meat  issued  to  us 
was  not  up  to  the  standard,  but  was,  on  the  contrary,  far  below  it. 
One  day  there  was  issued  to  us  bacon,  which  was  actually  alive  with 
maggots.  All  of  a  sudden  in  the  quarters  of  company  I.  there 
arose  a  terrible  hub-bub,  men  shouting  and  yelling,  cries  of  "  Hi, 
hi !"  "  Get  out  of  here  !"  "  Go  on,  go  on,"  etc.,  etc.  We  all 
ran  down  there,  the  colonel  and  all,  to  see  what  in  the  world  was 
the  matter,  when  we  found  Capt.  Vinson,  with  his  company,  sur- 
rounding the  pile  of  meat  which  had  been  issued  to  them,  and  with 
their  bayonets  fixed  were  going  through  the  motions  of  driving  the 
bacon  out  of  camp.  It  was  almost  lively  enough  to  march.  The 
colonel  could  not  at  first  understand  what  was  the  matter,  but  soon 
saw  the  point  when  he  examined  the  meat.  It  was  ordered  to  be 
destroyed  and  better  bacon  was  obtained. 

At  another  time  company  I  was  called  on  to  go  with  the  quarter- 
master's team  to  chop  wood  for  camp  use.  Capt.  Vinson  refused 
to  honor  the  detail  from  his  company,  alledging  that  we  did  not 
come  down  there  to  chop  wood,  and  that  there  was  no  necessity  for 
it  any  way,  as  there  were  cords  of  wood,  already  chopped  and  corded 
up,  standing  outside  of  the  line.  Quartermaster  Ayers  got  a  little 
riled  at  this,  and  off  he  went  to  Colonel  Harmon  to  report  that  the 
captain  of  company  I  refused  to  furnish  him  a  detail  to  chop  wood. 
It  was  not  long  until  an  order  came  requesting  the  captain's  pre- 
sence at  regimental  headquarters.  Away  went  the  captain  and  re- 
ported to  the  colonel  what  he  knew  in  regard  to  the  wood,  for  he 
had  seen  it  with  his  own  eyes.  He  returned  to  his  command,  and 
directly  the  colonel,  mounted  on  his  horse,  with  the  quartermaster 
by  his  side,  was  seen  riding  off  in  the  direction  of  the  picket  line. 
They  soon  returned,  and  the  consequence  was  that  the  teams  went 
after  the  wood  without  the  detail.  But  quartermaster  Ayers  did  not 
like  the  refusal  of  the  captain  to  go  with  him,  and  the  consequence 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I.  141 

was  company  I  received  a  supply  of  wood  that  was  very  lasting,  but 
of  not  much  use  for  cooking  purposes,  as  it  would  not  burn. 
Whether  the  quartermaster  intended  it,  or  not,  was  not  known,  but 
the  wood  furnished  company  I,  at  that  issue,  was  mostly  green  buck 
eye  and  cottonwood. 


PUBLIC  EXECUTION  AT  NASHVILLE. 

While  we  were  staying  at  Nashville,  desertions  became  frequent, 
the  boys  would  go  off  in  squads.  It  was  not  the  intention  on  the  part 
of  most  of  them  to  remain  away  for  good,  but  they  longed  to  see 
home  once  more,  and  after  being  absent  from  the  command  a  week 
or  two,  would  return.  This  was  contrary  to  all  military  discipline? 
and  must  be  stopped.  Orders  were  issued  threatening  the  extreme 
penalty  of  army  law,  if  such  behavior  was  continued,  which  was 
death.  But  still  desertions  were  frequent ;  and  so  one  day  an  order 
was  read  at  dress  parade  to  the  regiments  of  the  garrison,  notifying 
them  to  be  present  at  the  execution  of  a  soldier  belonging  to  the 
loth  Michigan,  who  had  been  tried  by  court  martial  for  desertion, 
found  guilty,  and  ordered  to  be  shot.  The  execution  was  to  take 
place  the  next  day  at  12  m.,  and  all  the  troops  in  the  city  were  to 
be  present.  Accordingly  at  the  appointed  hour  we  arrived  at  the 
place  where  we  were  drawn  up  into  line,  the  flanks  covered  by  the 
artillery  and  cavalry.  An  ambulance  escorted  by  a  mounted  guard, 
soon  arrived  at  the  place,  on  the  inside  of  which  was  the  prisoner, 
and  his  coffin.  Disembarking,  his  coffin  was  carried  before  him  to 
the  spot  for  it  to  rest.  The  prisoner  was  taken  to  view  his  grave, 
which  had  been  dug  at  the  foot  of  a  small  bush  not  far  off,  and  re- 
turning, he  seated  himself  on  his  coffin.  The  shooting  detail  march- 
ed out  and  took  position  ten  paces  in  front  of  him.  The  sergeant 
of  the  squad  approached  the  prisoner  and  proceeded  to  bandage  his 
eyes  with  a  handkerchief,  in  doing  which  he  was  assisted  by  the  pris- 


142  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 

oner  himself.  He  then  returned  to  the  head  of  his  squad.  At  the 
word  "  attention,  take  aim,"  here  the  prisoner  motioned  with  his 
hand,  pointing  to  his  heart,  "  fire."  The  twelve  rifles  cracked  as  one 
gun,  the  prisoner  fell  back  across  his  coffin,  dead.  There  was  not, 
so  it  seemed  to  us  who  were  the  unwilling  spectators  of  the  scene, 
a  movement  of  the  body.  Death  was  instantaneous,  and  the  soul 
of  the  soldier  passed  to  God  who  gave  it.  It  was  a  solemn  scene, 
and  impressed  us  all  deeply.  But  the  execution  was  over,  the  regi- 
ments were  marched  off  to  their  quarters,  and  the  affair  was  ended, 
to  be  talked  over  many  times,  afterwards.  We  thought  it  horrible, 
but  could  not  fail  to  see  the  justice  of  it,  as  we  all  knew  the  penalty 
of  desertion  was  death.  It  is  needless  to  add  that  the  lesson  was  a 
salutary  one,  and  desertions  became  less  frequent.  Still  the  ques 
tion  arose  how  can  the  crossing  of  the  river  be  effected  by  any  one, 
unless  assisted  by  some  friend  outside  of  our  own  camps.  So  the 
detective  branch  of  the  service  was  called  upon,  and  finally  they  un- 
earthed the  man  who  was  causing  all  the  trouble.  He  was  a  doctor 
in  the  city,  a  rebel  of  the  deepest  dye.  It  seems  this  fellow  would 
make  out  false  paroles  for  all  who  applied  to  him  for  them,  and 
would  direct  them  to  a  certain  spot  on  the  river's  bank,  where  they 
would  find  a  man  with  a  boat  who  would  ferry  them  across  the 
stream.  Once  over,  their  paroles  would  insure  them  safe  conduct, 
and  they  would  proceed  home  at  their  leisure.  This  doctor  was  ar- 
rested and  confined  in  the  penitentiary  in  the  city,  but  what  further 
was  ever  done  about  it  we  never  learned. 


DRAWING  RATIONS. 

One  evening  after  we  had  arrived  in  camp,  while  we  were  in  Ken- 
tucky, orders  were  given  us  to  go  for  rations.  Each  company  had 
its  commissary  sergeant,  whose  duty  it  was  to  attend  to  this  branch 
of  the  business.  He  would  call  on  boys  enough  for  his  purpose, 


THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I.  143 

and  proceed  to  the  brigade  commissary  with  their  pots  and  pans, 
anything  in  fact  that  would  hold  the  supplies,  and  receive  from  him 
the  amount  of  food  coming  to  the  company,  when  on  carrying  it  to 
.the  company  quarters,  each  man  would  receive  the  amount  due  him. 
On  the  evening  to  which  we  have  reference,  we  were  called  on  by 
the  sergeant  to  go  with  him  for  rations.  Of  course  we  complied. 
Arriving  at  the  brigade  commissary's  headquarters,  we  found  a 
crowd  waiting  there,  who  had  come  on  the  same  errand  as  ourselves. 
Standing  close  by  was  a  large  barrel  filled  with  shoulders.  It  at- 
tracted our  eye  immediately,  for  the  shoulders  and  hams  were  kept 
for  the  officers  use,  as  it  was  not  supposed,  perhaps,  that  a  private 
soldier  could  eat  such  food.  That  barrel  of  shoulders  had  a  mighty 
attraction  for  us.  We  approached  nearer  to  it,  and  finally  were  re- 
clining against  it.  In  some  way  our  arm  and  hand  got  inside  of  it, 
and  our  fingers,  those  wicked  fingers,  quickly  closed  around  thd 
shank  of  a  shoulder  with  a  vice-like  grip,  simultaneously  it  was 
drawn  out,  and  then  with  a  conviction  that  we  had  better  go  to  our 
quarters,  we  "  lit  out."  We  got  there  with  our  shoulder  safely,  and 
crawling  into  our  tent,  were  proceeding  to  hide  our  treasure  under  a 
blanket,  when  a  hand  was  laid  upon  us,  and  a  voice  said,  "  Go 
halves,  Bob."  We  nearly  jumped  through  the  tent  with  surprise. 
We  thought  that  we  had  done  a  very  clever  piece  of  foraging,  but 
our  departure  with  the  shoulder  from  the  commissary's  had  been 
noticed  by  our  commissary  sergeant,  John  Lockhart,  and  as  John 
had  a  tooth  for  such  food,  he  had  followed  us  up  to  get  a  share.  We 
divided  and  then  returned  for  our  rations.  The  next  day,  as  we 
marched  along,  we  had  a  good  dinner  with  what  was  left,  and  hoped 
that  an  opportunity  would  soon  offer  to  replenish  our  haversack  in 
the  same  way. 


BLUE  RIDGE. 

« 

The  event  which  we  are  about  to  relate,  happened  when  for  the 
first  time  we  were  placed  on  picket  guard,  at  Covington,  Ky.,  We 
were  stationed  three  on  a  post,  with  strict  orders  for  one  at  least  to 
remain  awake  at  all  times.  The  countersign  that  night,  was  "  Blue 
Ridge,"  and  about  nightfall  we  received  it.  One  of  our  boys,  very 
anxious  to  do  his  duty  properly,  was  on  post  when  the  "grand 


144  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 

rounds."  as  it  is  termed,  was  made  ;  at  midnight,  hearing  the  ap- 
proaching footsteps,  and,  perhaps,  feeling  the  fate  of  the  country 
resting  on  his  individual  shoulders,  he  halted  them  when  they  came 
near.  "  Halt,"  he  cried,  "  you  can't  pass  here  unless  you  say  '  Blue 
Ridge,' "  Poor  Jake,  that  word  was  dinned  in  his  ears  for  many  a 
long  day  after,  and  in  fact  he  went  by  the  name  of  "  Blue  Ridge  " 
for  the  balance  of  the  time  we  were  in  the  service.  At  day-light  we 
roused  up,  and  looking  off  in  the  direction  of  our  front,  saw  in  the 
distance  a  farm  house  ;  this  brought  to  our  minds  visions  of  break- 
fast, so  after  a  short  conference  together,  we  picked  up  our  guns  and 
marched  off,  leaving  the  picket  post  to  take  care  of  itself.  We  went 
to  the  farm  house  and  called  for  breakfast,  which  we  got  and  paid 
for,  and  then  returned  to  our  post.  Whether  our  absence  was  ever 
found  out  or  not,  we  never  ascertained,  and  in  fact  did  not  care,  but 
it  was  not  long  before  we  learned  that  this  was  not  the  way  in  which 
picket  duty  should  be  performed. 


RAIDS  ON  THE  SUTLER. 

It  often  happened  that  we  ran  out  of  money,  for  we  would  not  be 
paid  off,  perhaps,  for  six  months  at  a  time,  and  at  such  times  we 
would  get  in  terrible  straights  for  tobacco,  and  such  things,  and  the 
sutler's  goods  would  be  a  terrible  temptation  to  us.  There  they 
were,  arranged  in  good  style  back  of  his  counter,  caddies  of  tobacco, 
piles  of  canned  goods,  candy,  cheese,  crackers  and  lots  of  good 
things.  But  we  could  not  get  them,  unless  a  particular  friend  of  the 
sutler,  without  paying  cash.  The  temptation  some  times  was  too 
strong,  and  if  the  sutler  proved  to  be  of  a  niggardly  disposition,  we 
would  conspire  to  make  a  raid  on  his  institution.  On  a  night  agreed 
upon,  the  conspirators  would  assemble,  and  going  to  the  sutler's  tent, 
each  fellow  would  take  his  place  at  one  of  the  ropes  by  which  the 
tent  was  staked  to  the  ground,  and  at  a  given  signal,  each  rope  that 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I.  145 

held  the  tent,  would  be  cut,  letting  the  tent  down  upon  its  occupant, 
and  as  he  was  endeavoring,  the  best  he  knew  how,  to  get  out,  the 
boys  would  be  making  off  with  his  goods,  and  then  what  a  feast  we 
would  have.  Such  affairs  did  not  often  happen,  and  if  we  did  suc- 
ceed in  cleaning  him  out,  he  would  soon  stock  up  again,  and,  per- 
haps, not  be  so  penurious  with  the  boys  in  the  future.  But  these  sut- 
lers made  enormous  profits.  We  distinctly  remember  paying  four 
dollars  per  plug  for  navy  tobacco,  eight  dollars  for  a  shirt,  worth  per- 
haps, a  dollar  and  a  half,  and  other  things  in  proportion. 


JOHN  KIRSCH  AND  TOM  MAKEMSON'S  RICE  TRIP. 

While  we  were  lying  in  front  of  Savannah,  Ga.,  two  members  of 
company  I,  John  G.  Kirsch  and  Tom  Makemson,  came  to  the  con- 
clusion one  day,  as  food  was  scarce  in  camp,  to  go  out  into  the 
country  and  see  what  success  they  could  have  in  obtaining  some- 
thing to  eat.  They  procured  a  mule  apiece  and  away  they  went. 
They  had  not  travelled  far  until  they  came  to  a  rice  plantation,  and 
riding  up  to  where  they  saw  a  squad  of  darkeys,  they  opened  up  ne- 
gotiations with  them  for  the  purchase  of  some  rice  at  ten  cents  per 
quart.  The  darkies  were  willing  to  sell  and  our  warriors  were  will- 
ing to  buy,  provided',  however,  that  they  could  not  obtain  it  by  other 
means.  They  each  had  a  sack  apiece,  and  soon  the  darkies  had 
filled  John's  sack,  and  he  had  placed  it  on  his  mule,  remarking  to 
the  colored  gentleman,  who  had  measured  the  rice  out  to  him,  that 
he  woul'd  go  the  picket  reserve  yonder,  which  was  in  plain  sight,  and 
get  the  money  to  pay  for  it,  and  bring  it  back  to  him.  Off  John 
started.  By  this  time  Tom  had  got  his  sack  filled,  and  getting  it  on 
his  mule,  climbed  up  saying  :  "  He  wondered  what  in  the  world 
was  the  reason  that  fellow  didn't  come  with  that  money ;  he  was  a 
long  time  sure,  and  he  guessed  he  had  better  go  and  hurry  him  up, 
when  they  would  both  return  and  settle."  The  darkies  let  him  go, 


146  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I. 

but  he  had  not  gone  far  until  it  dawned  upon  their  minds  "  dat  dem 
yanks  aint  goin'  for  to  pay  us  for  dat  rice  at  all,"  and  immediately 
they  started  in  pursuit,  big,  little,  old  and  young,  and  their  dogs  after 
"  dem  ar  yanks,"  shouting  and  yelling  for  them  to  come  back  and 
pay  for  "  dat  ar  rice."  They  thought  they  could  head  the  boys  off, 
but  it  was  no  use.  Tom  had  a  mule  which  was  inclined  to  be  balky, 
but  John  got  behind  him  with  a  stick,  and  by  dint  of  beating  and 
shouting  managed  to  make  him  go.  They  were  making  good  time, 
with  the  darkies  in  full  pursuit,  when  they  came  to  a  little  branch 
that  crossed  their  line  of  retreat.  It  was  but  a  very  short  distance 
in  width,  and  into  it  they  plunged,  thinking  it  was  not  deep,  but  in 
this  they  were  badly  mistaken.  John's  mule  went  under  ears  and 
all,  and  he  gracefully  slid  off  and  got  f.o  shore  the  best  way  he  could, 
wet  through  and  his  bag  of  rice  at  the  bottom  of  the  branch  or 
bayou.  Tom  managed  to  get  out  all  safe  and  together  they  made 
their  way  to  camp.  But  not  a  word  was  said.  John  was  shivering 
with  the  cold,  his  rice  gone  never  to  be  recovered,  and  Tom  not 
daring  to  laugh  for  fear  of  his  life.  The  darkies  gave  up  the  chase 
and  left  the  boys  to  make  the  best  of  their  way  to  camp.  But  the 
story  leaked  out,  and  they  were  twitted  unmercifully  afterwards 
about  their  rice  expedition.  John  was  captured  shortly  afterwards 
and  taken  to  Andersonville.  where  he  remained  three  months,  but 
was  finally  released  and  arrived  home  safe.  Tom  is  now  in  Kansas. 


MRS.  DR.  MARY  WALKER. 

While  we  were  in  camp  at  Lee  and  Gordon's  mills,  our  camp  was 
surprised  one  day  by  the  appearance  of  a  person,  whom,  if  dress  was 
to  be  the  index  of  the  sex,  it  would  have  been  hard  to  determine 
whether,  whoever  it  might  be,  was  male  or  female.  But  it  proved  to 
be  the  notorious  Mrs.  Dr.  Mary  Walker.  She  had  appeared  at  Gen. 
Thomas'  headquarters,  at  Chattanooga,  desiring  to  be  placed  on  duty 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I.  147 

in  the  front,  as  surgeon  or  assistant  surgeon.  She  had  come  from 
the  hospitals  at  Washington,  where  she  had  done  good  service,  and 
where  her  services  were  acceptable.  But  the  doctor  was  ambitious  ; 
she  had  more  of  Mars  than  Venus  in  her  composition,  and  desired 
a  commission  with  the  rank  of  surgeon,  and  duty  imthe  field.  She 
had  been  sent  by  General  Thomas  to  report  to  Col.  Dan.  McCook, 
our  brigade  commander,  for  duty,  and  here  she  was.  Her  appear- 
ance was  indeed  curious,  and  excited  not  only  the  surprise,  but  the 
the  merriment  of  our  boys,  who,  although  they  had  seen  many  curi- 
ous things  in  their  army  life,  had  never  seen  the  like  of  this  before. 
Her  dress  consisted  of  a  low  crowned  fur  hat,  with  a  garment  some- 
thing similar  to  a  cloak,  bound  with  a  girdle  at  the  waist,  and  reach- 
ing down  a  little  below  the  knees,  from  beneath  which  a  pair  of 
black  cloth  pantaloons  appeared ;  a  small  foot,  covered  with  a  neat- 
ly fitting  boot,  finished  up  the  picture.  When  on  horseback  she  be- 
strode the  animal  like  a  man,  and  unless  a  person  knew  who  she  was 
would  have  readily  passed  for  one.  Her  face  was  boyish,  and  so  far 
as  our  judgement  went,  was  neither  good  looking  or  very  bad.  She 
was  a  lady  in  her  deportment,  but  how  it  ever  happened  that  a  wo- 
man should  desire  to  occupy  the  position  she  craved,  was  beyond 
our  comprehension.  To  be  in  the  midst  of  such  scenes  as  were 
transpiring  daily,  camp  life,  camp  customs,  and  camp  conversation, 
would,  we  should  think,  have  been  quite  contrary  to  the  female  long- 
ings. She  was  very  punctilious  in  regard  to  military  etiquette,  how- 
ever, and  carried  it  so  far  that  the  boys  got  disgusted  with  her.  She 
would  demand  from  a  guard  the  same  military  treatment  as  if  she 
had  been  a  general  officer.  This  the  boys  most  generally  accorded 
to  her,  more  out  of  a  spirit  of  politeness,  than  anything  else.  But 
one  day  she  ran  across  a  fellow  who  had  no  polite  notions  in  his 
head  about  such  matters,  who  believed  only  in  saluting  those  to 
whom  he  was  compelled,  by  military  law,  to  yield  such  homage.  She 
had  gone  out  to  the  picket  line,  and  had  started  around  it,  perhaps 
on  a  tour  of  inspection,  or,  perhaps,  merely  for  a  ride.  Going  along 
the  line,  she  came  to  a  man  on  post,  who,  to  all  indications,  neither 
saw  or  heard  her,  but  kept  on  diligently  walking  his  beat.  The  doc- 
tor came  up  and  rode  by.  Stopping  her  horse  after  she  had  passed, 
and  riding  back  to  the  guard,  she  said  :  "  Soldier,  why  don't  you  sa- 


148  THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I. 

lute  me  ?"  The  guard,  looking  at  the  doctor  from  head  to  foot,  re- 
plied :  "  Who  in  h — 11  are  you?"  and  immediately  resumed  his  walk. 
The  doctor  was  beaten,  and  so  badly  beaten,  both  by  astonishment, 
and,  perhaps,  rage,  that  she  rode  back  hastily  to  headquarters,  as 
mad  as  a  woman  can  ever  get,  to  report  to  Col.  Dan.  what  she  con- 
sidered an  outrageous  insult.  But  Col.  McCook  upheld  the  soldier 
in  his  military  behavior,  as  the  doctor  amounted  to  nothing  more,  in 
a  military  point  of  view,  than  any  other  citizen,  although  depreca- 
ting his  action  as  ungentlemanly.  If  there  was  any  balm  in  this  for 
her  wounded  feelings,  she  was  was  welcome  to  it ;  at  any  rate,  it  was 
all  she  got.  Not  long  after  this  the  doctor  went  outside  of  our  lines 
to  visit  a  sick  woman,  and  while  there  she  was  captured  by  the  reb- 
els. We  never  saw  her  more,  and  were  glad  to  get  rid  of  her. 


THE  "MONKLY  FOX." 

_When  in  camp,  or  on  the  march,  there  was  always  some  one  who 
could  extract  a  laugh  for  the  boys  out  of  the  veriest  nothing,  and 
such  a  fellow  was  very  often  a  regular  blessing.  Such  a  chap  was 

Ike  C .,  a  quiet,  unassuming  fellow,  broad  shouldered  and  big 

fisted,  and  an  excellent  soldier.  But  he  had  the  gift  of  making 
more  fun  than  commonly  falls  to  the  lot  of  mortals.  One  time 
there  had  been  a  detail  made  from  the  regiment,  while  at  Nashville, 

to  escort  to  Louisville  a  lot   of  rebel  prisoners.     Ezra   R .   was 

furnished  from  company  B,  and  after  he  returned,  had  marvelous 
tales  to  tell  of  what  sights  he  had  seen  on  the  road  and  while  in 
Louisville.  One  evening  he  was  in  a  tent  surrounded  by  a  lot  of 

boys  relating  to  them  his  adventures.     Ike  C .    was  there  with 

the  rest.  Ezra  had  just  finished  telling  of  some  monstrosity  he  had 
seen  in  Louisville,  and  according  to  his  description  the  like  had 
never  been  heard  of  before.  It  stood  up  when  it  sat  down,  and  had 
feelers  like  a  cat-fish  on  its  nose.  It  was  a  marvelous  creature 


THE     I25TH    REGIMENT    I.    V.    I.  149 

whatever  it  was.  Ike  listened  patiently  until  he  had  got  enough 
and  went  out.  Just  outside  the  door  of  the  tent  he  encountered  a 
fellow,  and  the  following  conversation  ensued  :  "  Say,"  says  Ike, 

"  you  ought  to  go  in  there  and  just  hear  Ezra  R .  tell  of  what 

he  saw  in  Louisville.  It  beats  anything  you  ever  heard  tell  of  ;  he 
says  he  saw  something  up  there  that  sat  down  when  it  stood  up, 
and  every  time  it  blowed  its  nose  it  blowed  cat-fish  out  of  it."  This 
was  all  said  in  such  a  loud  voice  that  every  one  inside  the  tent  could 
hear  it,  as  it  was  intended  they  should.  Out  came  Ezra  with  the 
rest  at  his  heels.  "  Where's  that  Ike  ?"  he  cried,  "  he  just  told  an 
awful  lie  about  me,  he  said  I  told  the  boys  that  when  I  was  at  Lou- 
isville, that  I  saw  something  that  sat  down  when  it  stood  up,  and 
every  time  it  blowed  its  nose  it  blowed  cat-fish  out  of  it ;  I  never 
said  it  at  all — ."  Ezra  was  going  on  to  explain,  but  the  boys  could 
not  wait  to  hear,  they  fairly  yelled  and  shouted  with  laughter.  The 
idea  of  there  being  such  a  creature,  and  to  see  Ezra  get  so  awful 
mad  .was  fun  enough  for  them,  and  it  was  a  long  time  before  Ezra 
heard  the  last  of  his  trip  to  Louisville.  At  another  time,  while  on 

the  march,  one  day  Philip  L- .  was  relating  to  a  comrade,  as  we 

marched  along,  about  a  great  chase  that  he  and  his  brother  once 
had  at  home  after  a  fox.  Phil  said  it  was  a  terrible  fox,  the  biggest 

ever  seen  in  those  parts,  etc.,  etc.  Ike  C .  happened  to  be 

Phil's  file  leader,  and  a  little  while  after  Phil  had  finished  his  story, 
and  we  were  marching  quietly  along,  nothing  much  being  said  by 
any  one,  Ike  broke  out : 

"  Say,"  addressing  the  fellow  next  to  him,  "  did  you  ever  hear  of 
a  monkly  fox  ?" 

"  Never  did,"  was  the  reply. 

"Did  you  hear  that  story  Phil  L -.  told  about  his  brother  and 

him  chasing  a  monkly  fox,  that  had  a  dash-board  under  his  tail, 
what  a  heavy  fox  it  was  ?" 

The  bait  was  grabbed  by  Phil. 

"  I  never  said  anything  about  a  monkly  fox  with  a  dash-board 
under  his  tail,  Ike  C .,  and  you  know  it." 

"Well  now,"  says  Ike,  with  assumed  innocence,  "if  that  don't 
beat  all ;  didn't  I  hear  you  tell  about  it,  how  you  and  your  brother 
chased  a  monkly  fox  with  a  dash-board  under  his  tail,  once  ?" 

"  No,  you  never  did  " 


150  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 

The  fun  for  those  who  were  listening  as  they  marched  along,  was 
growing  fast.  Still  Ike  held  to  his  version  of  the  story,  with  an  ap- 
pearance of  the  greatest  candor,  still  Philip  denied,  getting  madder 
and  madder,  and  at  last  Ike  capped  the  climax,  by  saying  that  Phil 
knew  he  did  tell  it,  and  when  they  got  into  camp  he  could  prove  it 
by  Lieutenant  Wilson,  who  was  then  in  command  of  the  company. 
All  right,  they  would  wait  until  they  got  to  camp.  Accordingly 
that  night  as  quick  as  the  orders  were  given  to  break  ranks,  away 
went  Phil  after  the  lieutenant.  Says  he :  "  Lieutenant,  did  you 
ever  hear  me  tell  about  the  time  that  my  brother  and  I  chased  a 
monkly  fox  with  a  dashboard  under  his  tail,  when  we  were  at 
home  ?"  This  was  too  much  for  the  lieutenant,  who  broke  into  a 
hearty  laugh  at  the  absurdity  of  the  question,  and  told  Phil  to  go 
back  to  his  quarters  and  not  come  bothering  him  about  such  matters  . 

Phil  was  ready  to  fight  almost  anything  but  Ike  C .     Ike's   fists 

were  larger  than  suited  Phil's  requirements,  but  he  breathed  out  all 
kinds  of  vengeance  against  him,  and  the  monkly  fox  with  a  dash- 
board under  his  tail  was  a  standing  joke  for  a  long,  long  time. 


ROAST  GOOSE. 

One  morning  when  in  camp  in  Kentucky,  as  we  were  walking  up 
the  color  line,  on  which  the  guns  were  stacked,  we  saw  under  a  stack 
of  guns  in  front  of  company  G's  quarters,  a  dead  gander.  As  we 
passed  along  we  reached  down  and  grabbing  the  gander  round  the 
neck,  kept  on.  We  got  to  our  company  with  our  prize  in  safety, 
and  hunted  up  the  captain's  darkey,  and  promised  him  a  dime  and 
a  piece  of  the  gander,  if  he  would  cook  it  for  us.  He  accepted  the 
proposition  and  took  charge  of  the  bird.  In  a  short  time  we  were 
ordered  to  fall  into  line  for  company  inspection.  The  right  of  the 
company  rested  on  a  big  pile  of  logs  that  were  making  a  splendid 
fire.  As  the  order  to  "  right  dress  "  was  given,  we  cast  our  eyes  to 


THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I.  15! 

the  right,  and  lo  !  and  behold !  there  stood  the  captain's  darkey  with 
our  gander.  Elevating  him  by  one  leg,  he  would  hold  him  over  the 
fire  until  the  heat  would  compel  him  to  change,  when  he  would  hold 
him  by  the  other,  every  once  in  a  while  jerking  him  up,  and  pinch- 
ing pieces  of  the  flesh  out  with  his  fingers,  and  eating  it  to  see  if  it 
was  cooked.  He  had  not  half  picked  it,  and  the  gander  looked 
very  much  as  if  it  had  received  a  coat  of  tar  and  feathers.  At  times 
the  darkey  would  get  tired  holding,  and  then  he  would  rest  himself 
by  placing  the  fearfully  mistreated  bird  on  top  of  his  wooly  pate.  I 
kept  watching  him,  taking  a  peep  at  him  as  often  as  I  could.  At 
last  I  nudged  the  fellow  next  to  me,  he  looked  and  saw,  and  nudged 
the  fellow  next  to  him.  Then  the  captain,  seeing  that  something 
was  going  wrong,  happened  to  turn  his  eyes  in  the  same  direction, 
also.  There  stood  the  darkey,  as  black  an  one  as  ever  we  saw,  look- 
ing reflectively  into  the  fire,  with  the  mutilated  gander  perched  on 
his  wooly  head.  It  was  too  much  for  the  captain,  even ;  he  smiled, 
and  then  for  a  moment  we  all  laughed,  but  the  darkey  was  driven 
away  and  order  restored.  I  never  knew  what  became  of  my  gander, 
nor  did  I  care,  after  having  seen  him  treated  in  such  a  manner,  but 
if  our  memory  serves  us  right,  some  of  the  boys  made  a  raid  on  the 
darkey  after  inspection  was  over,  and  captured  what  was  left  of  it. 


THE  RESCUED   NEGROES. 

On  our  march  through  Georgia  and  South  Carolina,  the  negroes 
swarmed  to  our  lines.  Here  they  came  in  all  styles  and  conditions, 
some  of  them  presenting  a  pitiful  sight,  while  the  appearance  of 
others  was  comical  in  the  extreme.  Here  would  be  a  mother,  bare 
headed,  and  bare  footed,  her  clothing  in  rags  and  tatters,  carrying  a 
babe  in  her  arms,  while  two  others  were  clinging  to  her  dress,  doing 
all  they  could  to  keep  up  with  her.  Here  would  be  two,  a  man  and 
a  woman,  probably  his  wife,  in  "  ole  massa's"  carriage,  dressed  up 


152  THE    I25TH    REGIMENT    I.   V.    I. 

in  "  ole  massa's  and  misses'  "  clothes  that  had  been  left  behind  when 
"  massa  and  misses  "  fled  before  the  approach  of  our  army.  Hitch- 
ed to  this  buggy  ot  carriage  would  be  an  animal,  either  a  horse  or  a 
mule,  such  an  one  as  would  be  described  as  an  architectural  animal, 
with  fluted  sides,  and  a  hand  rail  down  its  back.  But  what  cared 
Pomp  and  Dinah  for  the  appearance  of  the  stud  as  long  as  he  would 
bear  them  on  to  liberty?  There  they  would  sit,  laughing  and  chat- 
ting together,  dressed  in  finer  clothes  than  they  had  ever  before 
worn,  as  happy  as  happy  could  be,  keeping  up  with  us  while  on 
the  march,  and  going  into  camp  when  we  camped  at  night.  Many 
of  these  negroes  were  put  to  serviceable  uses  as  pioneers,  others  as 
cooks,  etc.,  but  employment  could  not  be  furnished  for  the  half  of 
them,  and  they  were  getting  to  be  an  incubus  to  the  army.  On  our 
line  of  march  we  often  had  to  cross  bayous  of  great  depth  and  con- 
siderable width.  When  we  arrived  at  such  places,  the  pontoon 
train  would  be  ordered  up  and  a  bridge  thrown  across,  over  which 
the  army  marched.  Gen.  J.  C.  Davis,  our  corps  commander,  thought 
that  by  stopping  the  negroes  as  they  came  to  the  banks  of  the  bay- 
ou,'and  holding  them  there  until  the  army  had  crossed,  and  the 
pontoons  had  been  taken  up,  they  could  be  kept  back. 

So  orders  to  that  effect  were  issued.  A  guard  under  command  of 
Major  Lee,  the  provost  general  of  the  corps,  was  stationed  on  the 
bank  of  a  bayou  and  every  negro,  unless  an  officer's  servant,  or  in 
charge  of  a  pack  mule,  was  halted  and  held  there  until  the  rear 
guard  of  the  corps  had  crossed,  then  the  pontoons  were  taken  up, 
and  the  darkies  left  behind.  It  seemed  to  be  a  cruel  order,  but  it 
was  necessary,  for  our  rear  was  very  generally  followed  at  a  safe  dis- 
tance, however,  by  roaming  bands  of  guerillas  and  bushwhackers, 
and  it  is  to  be  feared  that  their  usage  of  these  unfortunate  creatures, 
whenever  they  fell  into  their  hands,  was  cruel  in  the  extreme,  and 
they  themselves  dreaded  falling  into  the  hands  of  their  old  oppress- 
ors. The  consequence  was  that  the  next  day  the  darkies  again 
made  their  appearance,  seemingly  stronger  than  before  as  to  num- 
bers. How  they  managed  to  cross  the  bayou,  infested  as  these 
bayous  were  with  alligators,  we  do  not  know,  but  cross  they  did, 
and  again  took  up  their  line  of  march  with  us  as  before.  They  had 
outwitted  the  general  and  were  bothered  no  more  in  their  endeavors 
to  obtain  freedom  from  persecution  and  oppression. 


PERSONAL  MENTION. 

In  giving  the  reader  some  instances  of  special  acts  of  heroism, 
the  writer  has  not  the  slightest  wish  or  disposition,  far  from  it,  to  un- 
justly discriminate  against  the  same  meritorious  qualities  displayed 
by  others.  On  the  contrary,  he  would  be  only  too  glad  to  make 
particular  mention  of  all  such,  even  at  the  risk  of  swelling  this  book 
beyond  its  intended  proportions,  but  unfortunately  for  him,  the  wri- 
ter is  not  informed  of  all  such  acts,  nor  the  peculiar  circumstances 
under  which  they  were  made  manifest.  All  who  did  their  duty,  were 
necessarily  brave  and  true.  Those  who  did  grandly  under  extraor- 
dinary circumstances,  were  possibly  no  better  soldiers,  but  were  in 
condition  to  more  brilliantly  display  these  qualities;  and  as  their 
connection  with  the  regiment  gave  them  their  opportunity,  so  should 
their  deeds  become  the  property  of  the  regiment,  and  their  memory 
our  common  heritage. 


20 


LIEUTENANT  GEORGE  SCROGGS. 

Lieutenant  George  Scroggs  was  a  young  officer  of  more  than  or- 
dinary intelligence  ;  quick  to  apprehend  duty,  and  bold  in  the  exe- 
cution of  commands.  We  first  remember  him  as  our  sergeant  maj- 
or, and  how  he  used  to  rattle  the  boys  out  of  their  blankets,  long 
before  daylight,  during  the  cold  season  when  we  occupied  the  sub- 
urbs of  Nashville.  Afterwards  he  was  commissioned  as  lieutenant 
of  company  E,  then  detailed  on  the  division  staff,  first  as  ordnance 
officer,  and  then  commissary  of  musters.  Time,  experience,  and 
natural  aptitude,  served  to  teach  him  what  the  duties  of  a  staff  offi- 
cer should  be,  until,  perhaps,  no  officer  on  the  staff  of  the  division 
general,  understood  them  better.  All  who  were  engaged  in  it,  will 
remember  the  battle  of  Bentonville,  N.  C.,  on  March  iQth,  1865. 
How  the  third  brigade  was  sent  from  its  intrenchments  by  General 
Morgan,  and  thrown  out  towards  the  Goldsboro  road,  to  intercept 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I.  155 

the  rebel  column  then  in  hot  pursuit  of  Gen.  Carlin's  retreating 
forces.  How  the  right  wing  of  the  brigade  was  struck,  and  doubled 
back  on  the  center  and  left,  and  finally  retreated  to  the  batteries  be- 
yond the  open  field.  How,  too,  we  soon  rallied  and  reoccupied  the 
lost  ground,  each  man  carrying  a  rail,  and  began  the  work  of  in- 
trenching. How  communication  with  General  Morgan,  and  the 
first  and  second  brigades  was  cut  off,  leaving  Lieut.  Scroggs  and 
Captain  Stinson,  of  Gen.  Morgan's  staff,  with  our  brigade,  unable  to 
reach  their  command.  In  this  dilemma,  instead  of  seeking  a  safe 
retreat  as  they  might,  and  too  many  would  have  done,  until  commu- 
nication was  opened  with  their  own  general,  they  at  once  reported 
to  Col.  Langley  for  duty  as  volunteer  aids.  You  will  also  remember 
the  fact  that  constant  firing,  threatened  every  minute,  our  stock  of 
ammunition,  and  the  equally  constant  firing  of  the  enemy,  made  a 
passage  to  our  supplies  across  the  open  field  to  our  rear,  exceed- 
ingly hazardous.  The  colonel  had  already  ordered  two  or  three  staff 
officers,  and  as  many  orderlies,  beyond  the  hill  for  ammunition,  but 
with  no  good  result,  though  reports  came  back  to  him  that  it  had 
been  ordered,  and  the  wagons  were  on  the  way.  Shortly  an  orderly 
reported  that  two  wagons  were  just  over  the  crest  of  the  ridge,  but 
were  afraid  to  go  further,  and  had  refused  to  do  so.  The  colonel 
immediately  dispatched  Lieut.  Scroggs  to  proceed  and  bring  these 
two  wagons  at  all  hazards.  The  moment  he  received  the  order,  he 
sank  his  spurs  into  his  horse,  and  dashed  across  the  field  towards 
where  the  insubordinate  drivers  were  supposed  to  be,  through  a  per- 
fect storm  of  bullets  and  exploding  shells,  until  he  disappeared  from 
view  beyond.  Every  heart  at  the  front  beat  with  intense  anxiety. 
We  had  already  been  ordered  to  economize  our  supply.  Some  were 
entirely  out  of  cartridges  and  were  borrowing  from  others.  A  few 
rounds  to  the  man  had  been  obtained  from  a  brigade  of  the  zoth 
army  corps,  and  these  were  nearly  all  gone.  Our  position  became 
critical,  but  in  a  few  moments,  looking  again  to  the  rear,  we  saw  the 
brave  lieutenant  returning  at  the  same  speed  with  which  he  had  left  us 
and  with  him  were  the  wagons  and  ammunition  so  much  desired, 
and  looked  for  by  all,  moving  to  the  threatening  motion  of  George's 
sword.  They  wore  just  in  time,  for  our  firing  could  have  continued 
but  little  longer,  and  they  were  welcome  in  proportion  to  our  danger. 


156  THE    I25TH    REGIMENT    I.  V.    I. 

George  had  found  the  wagons  as  he  expected,  and  immediately  or- 
dered the  teamsters  to  mount  and  follow  him,  but  their  fear  stilll  de- 
terred them,  and  they  refused,  and  only  obeyed  the  commands  when 
he  drew  his  sword,  and  in  language  more  forcible  than  elegant, 
threatened  them  with  vengence  more  terrible  than  rebel  bullets  had 
power  to  inflict.  Towards  sundown  the  lieutenant  was  severely 
wounded  in  a  further  attempt  to  reach  his  commanding  officer.  This 
afflicted  him  more  or  less  during  the  remainder  of  his  days.  Precise- 
ly how  far  he  was  instrumental  in  saving  the  honor  of  the  brigade, 
and  the  lives  of  many  of  the  members  by  his  timely  execution  of 
so  important  an  order  on  that  bloody  igth  of  March,  may  never  be 
known,  but  the  memory  of  a  brave  act,  voluntarily  performed  in 
the  face  of  grave  danger,  merits  our  highest  commendation,  and  we 
cheerfully  place  this  tribute  of  respect  upon  the  recently  made  grave 
of  Lieutenant  George  Scroggs. 


SERGEANT  S.  C.  ABBOTT. 

Numbers  of  our  readers  will  remember  Sergeant  S.  C.  Abbott,  of 
company  H.  Always  in  earnest  about  everything  he  undertook,  im- 
patient of  delay,  anxious  to  end  the  job  and  go  home  about  his 
business,  which  greatly  needed  his  attention.  He  was  perhaps  older 
than  the  average  of  the  regiment,  a  very  intelligent  man,  and  had 
preached  to  some  extent  before  entering  the  service.  Some  time  in 
the  fall  of  1863,  he  applied  for  a  furlough,  urging  business  consider- 
ations, but  after  a  good  deal  of  delay,  his  application  was  returned 
— "  denied."  He  received  the  information  just  as  the  regiment  was 
on  the  march  to  a  new  camp,  the  route  to  which,  took  us  nearly  by 
General  Thomas'  headquarters  at  Chattanooga.  The  sergeant,  vex- 
ed at  the  delay,  and  mortified  at  the  refusal  of  his  request,  conclu- 
ded to  cut  all  red  tape,  and  go  in  person  to  General  Thomas  with 
his  application.  He  accordingly  broke  ranks,  went  alone  to  the 


THE    I25TH    REGIMENT   I.    V.    I.  157 

house  the  general  was  occupying,  passed  by  every  sentinel,  and 
burst  into  the  august  presence  of  the  great  army  chief.  Holding  his 
returned  application  for  a  furlough  in  his  hand,  his  whole  manner 
evincing  the  desperation  of  his  purpose,  he  thrust  the  offending  en- 
dorsement under  the  very  nose  of  the  commander  of  the  armies, 
and  demanded,  as  one  having  authority,  to  know  what  the  language 
meant,  and  why  his  application  was  refused.  He  was  referred  to  the 
proper  officer  for  explanation,  but  he  would  accept  no  reference, 
and  in  an  impassioned  appeal  to  grant  the  favor  he  asked,  he  struck 
the  tender  side  of  the  good  old  general's  nature,  who  at  once,  with 
his  own  hand,  we  believe,  erased  the  offensive  word,  "  denied,"  and 
wrote  thereon,  "granted;"  and  the  over  rejoiced  sergeant  was  soon 
homeward  bound,  filled  with  thoughts  of  love  for  good  old  "  Pap  " 
Thomas.  This  was  not  our  purpose,  however,  in  introducing  Ser- 
geant Abbott  to  your  notice.  The  above  may  be  called  an  act  of 
boldness,  "  cheek,"  "  strategy,"  or  what  you  will,  but  surely  there 
were  few  men  who  would  have  taken  the  risk.  We  remember  this 
daring  soldier  on  other  occasions.  At  the  close  of  the  battle  of 
Missionary  Ridge,  and  while  we  were  pursuing  General  Manny's 
brigade  of  rebels  across  a  small,  boggy  stream,  just  about  dark,  to 
our  front  and  left  were  standing  some  ammunition  wagons,  aban- 
doned by  the  enemy.  They  were  necessarily  in  the  line  of  our 
march,  but  as  we  approached  them,  one  of  the  wagons  was  discov- 
ered to  be  on  fire,  and  nearly  full  of  fixed  ammunition,  not  yet  re- 
moved from  the  boxes.  The  regiment  immediately  swung  to  the 
right,  to  avoid  so  dangerous  an  enemy.  Some  one  had  the  presence 
of  mind  to  call  for  volunteers  to  help  extinguish  the  fire  before  it 
should  communicate  to  the  powder,  and  produce  the  explosion  that 
would  have  been  inevitable,  and  possibly  disastrous  to  human  life. 
All  shrunk  involuntarily  from  the  task,  but  the  sergeant,  well  toward 
the  right  of  the  regiment,  and  in  comparative  security,  at  once  ran 
down  to  the  left,  and  promptly  answering,  "  I  will  go,"  suited  his 
action  to  the  word,  and  in  a  moment  was  fighting  down  and  con- 
quering the  fire  with  no  more  concern,  or  trepidition,  than  if  he  was 
adjusting  it  for  cooking  his  rations.  His  act  was  justly  applauded 
by  all  who  witnessed  it.  It  is  a  pity  so  brave  a  man  should  go 
through  life  maimed  as  he  is,  but  he  met  the  common  fate  of  the 


158  THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I. 

soldier,  and  was  severely  wounded  July  2oth,  1864,  at  Peach  Tree 
creek,  and  will  probably  carry  the  missile  intended  for  his  death,  in 
his  body  so  long  as  he  lives.  On  the  morning  after  that  battle,  the 
sergeant  had  gone  a  little  to  the  front,  to  spy  out  where  some  rebel 
sharp-shooters  lay  concealed,  and  were  firing  upon  our  men.  He 
succeeded  in  locating  them,  and  was  in  the  act  of  pointing  out  their 
position  to  Colonel  Langley,  when  he  was  wounded.  This  was  the 
last  service  he  did  with  the  regiment,  as  the  severity  of  his  wound 
necessitated  his  discharge,  and  he  left  us  regretted  by  all  his  com- 
rades who  had  learned  his  sterling  qualities. 


LIEUTENANT  JOHN  J.  WHITE. 

We  want  to  give  a  slight  tribute  to  the  memory  of  a  very  brave 
young  officer  of  company  F,  Lieut.  John  J.  White. 

This  young  man  had  enlisted  in  his  company  as  a  private.  He 
was  young,  intelligent,  a  stranger  to  the  company  at  its  organization, 
but  his  soldierly  bearing,  intelligent  comprehension  of  duty,  and  its 
prompt  performance,  soon  attracted  attention  to  him  as  comprising 
the  material  suited  for  a  leader,  and  he  was  promoted  to  a  lieuten- 
antcy.  At  the  crossing  of  the  Sand  T  own  road  in  front  of  Atlanta, 
August  7,  1864,  the  lieutenant  was  in  command  of  company  G,  un- 
der temporary  detail  for  that  purpose.  The  short  advance  made  by 
our  line  at  that  place,  was  accomplished  in  the  face  of  a  galling  fire 
of  musketry  and  artillery,  not  less  than  half  a  dozen  batteries  of  the 
enemy,  centering  their  fire  upon  our  exposed  ranks.  Men  were  fall- 
ing in  every  direction  and  the  scene  was  for  a  time  simply  terrific. 
Our  position  once  reached,  the  men  were  ordered  to  lie  down.  The 
confusion  of  getting  into  position  doubled  the  line  in  some  parts 
and  left  gaps  in  others.  Lieutenant  White  was  actively  endeavor- 
ing to  get  the  left  to  give  way  so  as  to  let  all  of  company  G  into 
line,  and  in  meeting  with  opposition  he  stepped  a  few  paces  to  the 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.    V.  I.  159 

right  to  inform  the  colonel  of  the  situation,  and  was  just  in  the  act 
of  saluting  him  with  his  sword,  when  a  shell  from  the  enemy  crashed 
through  his  right  shoulder,  tearing  the  arm  from  his  body,  from  which 
wound  he  died  in  a  few  hours.  Amid  the  storm  of  battle,  when 
brave  men  expose  themselves  only  from  necessity,  that  coolness  and 
mental  collection  that  enables  an  officer  to  remember  all  the  refine- 
ments of  discipline,  even  to  the  salutation  of  his  superior,  is  a 
quality  to  be  admired,  as  it  evinces  a  talent  so  essential  to  command 
under  the  most  trying  circumstances.  Lieutenant  White  was  of  a 
modest  and  retiring  disposition,  ordinarily,  but  in  action  was  the  im- 
personation of  true  courage.  He  was  beloved  by  all  who  shared 
his  more  intimate  fellowship,  and  his  death  cast  a  gloom  over  the 
regiment.  May  peace  forever  brood  over  the  land  that  holds  the  re- 
mains of  the  brave  soldier. 


OUR  COLOR  BEARERS. 

Who  but  brave  men  would  solicit  the  honor  of  carrying  the  colors, 
or  who  of  any  other  quality  would  not  murmur  if  ordered  to  that 
post  of  great  responsibility  and  danger  ?  Yet  who  ever  heard  a 
word  of  complaint  from  James  H.  Simpson  or  James  M.  White  ? 
Whether  in  the  bright  sunshine  or  under  the  storm  cloud,  in  camp 
or  on  the  weary  march,  on  the  defence,  or  in  the  deadly  assault,  on 
through  to  victory  or  defeat,  they  never  swerved  or  faltered,  but  al- 
ways stood  true  to  their  great  trust,  until  the  last  hostile  gun  was 
fired,  and  these  brave  boys  returned  their  battle  and  storm  scarred 
emblems  to  the  government  they  had  so  nobly  served.  How  in  the 
desolation  of  the  conflict,  the  right  and  left  flanks,  when  the  burden 
of  the  fight  seemed  to  be  almost  an  individual  one,  would  cast  their 
eyes  towards  the  center,  and  learning  that  "  our  flag  was  still  there," 
caught  a  new  inspiration  and  redoubled  their  energies  for  the  victory. 
And  now  as  we  reflect  that  our  nation's  banner  waves  triumphantly 


l6o  THE  I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I. 

over  all  this  broad  land,  the  emblem  of  peace  and  law,  and  as  our 
hearts  swell  with  gratitude  and  just  pride  over  this  grand  consumma- 
tion, let  us  not  forget  the  honor  due  the  men  whose  heroism  during 
the  perils  of  war  kept  our  flag  from  the  pollution  of  traitor  hands. 


ASBURY  D.  FINLEY. 

It  would  not  do  to  forget  in  this  connection  the  name  of  Asbury 
D.  Finley,  private  of  company  A.  No  truer  heroism  was  ever  dis- 
played than  by  this  young  man  on  the  Peach  Tree  creek  battlefield. 
The  85th  Illinois,  commanded  by  Major  Rider,  was  sent  forward 
across  a  narrow  corn-field  and  into  position,  as  ordered  by  Col.  Dil- 
worth,  then  commanding  the  brigade.  Our  regiment  was  ordered 
to  advance  to  near  the  edge  of  the  cornfield  and  support  the  85th, 
and  although  only  a  short  distance  apart,  we  could  not  see  the  85th 
for  the  standing  corn.  We  had  remained  in  this  position  for  some 
time,  when  it  became  apparent  that  the  rebels  were  on  the  ground 
formerly  occupied  by  the  85th,  though  we  had  received  no  notice  of 
the  removal  of  the  latter  regiment.  In  this  state  of  doubt,  and  to 
make  sure  of  the  situation,  Col.  Langley  called  for  a  volunteer  to 
go  forward,  learn  and  report  the  condition  of  things  to  the  front. 
It  was  a  task  that  even  brave  men  would  not  covet,  but  at  once 
Finley  rose  and  offered  to  go.  Receiving  his  instructions  he  started 
through  the  corn-field.  But  the  result  and  the  colonel's  apprecia- 
tion of  the  act,  and  his  impressions  after  the  lapse  of  more  than 
sixteen  years,  we  will  give  in  his  own  words  taken  from  a  personal 
letter  to  Mr.  Finley  of  date  February  i4th,  1881  : 

CHAMPAIGN,  ILLINOIS,  FEBRUARY  14,  1881. 
A.  D.  FINLEY,  ESQ.,  Catlin,  Illinois. 

My  dear  sir  and  comrade :     *  *     I    well   remem- 

ber and  can  not  forget  how  on  the  igth  day  of  July,  1864,  at  Peach 
Tree  creek,  when  I  was  anxious  to  know  whether  the   85th   Illinois 


THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I.  l6l 

was  still  in  our  front  beyond,  and  I  called  for  a  volunteer  to  go  for- 
ward, ascertain  and  report,  that  you  very  promptly  offered  to  go, 
and  did  go,  until  you  were  captured  almost  in  my  sight.  I  remem- 
ber that  you  were  detained  for  a  long  time  a  prisoner  and  that  when 
you  returned  to  the  regiment  you  were  very  much  emaciated.  That 
I  believed  then  and  still  believe  you  had  suffered  during  your  incar- 
ceration, all  the  torments  of  Andersonville.  I  also  remember  how 
grateful  I  was  for  the  services  you  so  bravely  rendered  to  the  whole 
regiment,  and  possibly  the  brigade,  for  your  capture  showed  me  that 
the  rebels  were  occupying  the  very  ground  I  had  reason  to  suppose 
was  covered  by  the  85th  Illinois,  and  enabled  me  to  adjust  my  line 
for  greater  security  until  ordered  to  retire  by  the  brigade  comman- 
der. I  could  say  very  much  more,  if  necessary,  as  reasons  satisfac- 
tory to  me,  why  your  case  should  be  regarded  with  great  favor  by 
the  government  you  aided  so  much  to  defend  and  save. 

Very  truly, 

J.  W.  LANGLEY. 

The  above  letter  was  written  in  support  of  an  application  for  a 
pension,  because  of  disability  incurred  while  Finley  was  a  prisoner 
at  Andersonville. 


HARVEY  S.  TRYON. 

Another  instance  of  true  courage  and  manhood  was  exemplified 
in  the  militaay  life  and  character  of  Harvey  S.  Tryon,  for  a  long 
time  a  private  of  company  H,  but  when  mustered  out,  a  sergeant. 
We  do  not  remember  this  man  as  specially  brilliant  in  feats  of  arms, 
or  in  the  performance  of  some  peculiarly  delicate  or  dangerous  mil- 
itary duty,  but  still  a  hero  in  the  highest  sense,  and  his  memory  will 
be  respected  as  such  by  all  christain  men  and  women  who  knew  him, 
or  shall  read  this  estimate  of  his  Christian  character.  It  may  be 
said  of  him,  as  probably  of  very  few,  if  any,  others,  that  during  his 
21 


1 62  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 

entire  three  years  service,  performing  at  all  times  every  military  duty 
required  of  him,  amid  the  levity,  and  too  often  vulgar  profanity  of 
the  camp,  he  never  omitted  his  higher  duty  to  the  God  of  his  salva- 
tion, whom  he  had  vowed  to  serve.  His  faith  was  simple,  pure,  and 
firmly  grounded.  His  religious  convictions  were  never  compromis- 
ed or  suffered  to  lie  in  abeyance,  but  without  ostentation,  or  self- 
righteous  display,  he  moved  in  the  midst  of  his  comrades  their  best 
friend  and  safe  counsellor,  and  a  daily  example  of  a  true  life.  He 
had  the  respect  of  all  who  knew  him,  and  his  pious  influence  was  re- 
flected upon  all  who  came  in  contact  with  him.  Since  the  war  he 
has  been  continuously  preaching  the  gospel  truths  he  so  happily  il- 
lustrated in  his  life  and  character  while  a  soldier.  Heroism  in  this 
line  being  so  rare  in  army  life,  we  cannot  refrain  from  saying  this 
much  of  one  who  so  fully  exemplifed  it  in  our  regiment. 


SERGEANT  WM.  L.  THRALLS. 

Another  brave  boy  was  Sergeant  William  L.  Thralls,  of  company 
B.  We  say  boy,  for  he  was  only  that  in  years,  yet  he  was  endowed 
with  all  the  qualities  of  a  grand  manhood.  In  camp,  and  at  all 
times,  a  gentleman  in  his  deportment ;  in  action,  brave,  cool,  and 
intelligent.  He  had  attracted  the  attention  of  his  superior  officers, 
and  was  to  have  been  recommended  for  a  lieutenantcy.  In  the  first 
onset  at  the  battle  of  Jonesboro,  he  was  wounded  in  the  leg,  and  in 
endeavoring  to  leave  the  field,  was  offered  assistance  by  his  com- 
rades, but  this  he  refused,  telling  them  to  stick  to  their  guns,  as  he 
would  not  let  them  leave  the  field  on  his  account.  This  circum- 
stance happened  under  the  eye  of  Colonel  Langley,  who  there  and 
then  commended  him  for  his  bravery,  and  offered  to  send  one  of  the 
musicians  with  him,  but  no  he  would  not  accept,  refusing  with  the 
inborn  politeness  of  a  natural  gentleman.  The  colonel  pointed  him 
where  our  hospital  was,  and  the  brave  young  sergeant  dragged  him- 


THE    I25TH    REGIMENT    I.    V.    I.  163 

self  off  the  field.  When  nearly  at  the  hospital  he  received  a  mortal 
wound  through  the  body,  of  which  he  shortly  died.  We  will  give, 
in  the  colonel's  own  language,  his  last  sad  interview  with  our  brave 
young  comrade.  He  says  : 

"  After  night,  and  when  I  had  reported  my  position  to  General 
Morgan,  I  went  to  look  up  Thralls,  for  his  coolness  impressed  me  all 
through  the  fight.  On  finding  him  I  learned  that  after  nearly  reach- 
ing the  hospital,  he  had  received  another  wound  through  the  body, 
of  which  he  must  shortly  die.  I  was  shocked  to  hear  it  for  I  great- 
ly wanted  that  boy  to  recover,  so  that  I  could  give  him  the  promo- 
tion I  intended  for  him,  and  he  so  well  deserved.  I  bent  over  his 
dying  form,  gently  touching  him,  and  spoke  his  name.  Upon  rec- 
ognizing me  he  roused  a  little  and  expressed  much  delight  that  I 
had  come  to  see  him.  He  first  asked  me  how  the  battle  had  gone, 
and  upon  being  told,  he  seemed  greatly  gratified.  He  begged  to  be 
assured  that  I  was  entirely  satisfied  with  his  conduct,  and  upon  be- 
ing told  that  he  was  the  first  man  that  I  had  ever  seen  who  refused 
help  from  the  field,  and  that  such  denial  evinced  a  discipline  so  un- 
usual, and  a  spirit  so  unselfish,  as  to  make  his  conduct  specially  com- 
mendable, and  that  as  a  true  soldier  he  had  done  his  whole  duty. 
He  seemed  content,  was  willing  to  die  for  his  country,  and  be  at  rest, 
for  he  was  suffering  most  intense  pain.  With  a  sad  heart  I  bade 
that  boy  farewell." 

Yes,  poor  fellow,  he  was  loved  by  us  all,  and  we  deeply  mourned 
his  death.  It  is  such  men  as  these  whose  company  is  an  honor  to 
the  living,  and  over  whose  memory  we  meditate  with  saddened 
thoughts.  But  to  that  galaxy  of  bright  names  on  high,  to  which  so 
many  names  were  added  during  our  terrible  war,  we  feel  assured  that 
the  name  of  William  L.  Thralls,  is  also  there,  shining  with  the  efful- 
gence of  glory.  Brave  soldier,  true  comrade,  faithful  friend,  fare- 
well. The  pines  of  Georgia  wail  a  mournful  requiem  over  your  last 
resting  place,  but  your  better  part  has  gone  to  God  who  gave  it ; 
this  is  the  assurance  that  the  bible  gives,  and  we  believe  it.  Suffice 
it  to  say,  that  no  braver  name  appears  on  the  muster  roll  of  company 
B,  than  Sergeant  William  L.  Thralls,  and  what  more  glorious  epitaph 
than  that  which  comes  after :  "  Died  of  wounds  received  at  Jones- 
boro,  Ga.,  September  2,  1864." 


THE  EMANCIPATION  PROCLAMATION. 

As  we  have  before  stated,  we  were  garrisoning  the  city  of  Nash- 
ville when  we  received  the  Emancipation  Proclamation,  and  during 
the  one  hundred  days  that  ensued  between  its  publication  and  en- 
forcement, there  was  considerable  stir  in  army  circles  as  to  the  pro- 
priety and  legality  of  such  a  measure.  In  our  own  regiment  the 
officers  held  a  meeting  for  the  purpose,  as  it  were,  of  ratifying  the 
Proclamation,  at  which  the  following  resolutions,  by  Colonel  Lang- 
ley,  were  spread  before  the  meeting  for  its  approval  and  adoption  : 

Resolved,  That  we  are  as  ready  and  willing  to  aid  the  Commander 
in  Chief  of  the  Army  and  Navy  of  the  United  States,  in  carrying 
out  his  proclamation  to  emancipate  the  slaves  in  certain  territory 
therein  mentioned,  as  a  necessary  war  measure,  as  we  are  to  aid  in 
the  execution  of  any  order  from  the  War  Department. 

Resolved,  That  he  who  fails  to  see  written  in  unmistakable  char- 
acters, the  doom  of  slavery  as  a  consequence  of  the  war,  must  be 
totally  blind  to  the  great  panorama  of  events  which  daily  pass  before 
him,  and  he  who  would  avoid  confusion  and  anarchy,  must  also  see 
the  necessity  of  organizing  and  disciplining  slaves,  made  free  by  mil- 
itary authority ;  and  further,  if  organized  and  disciplined,  the  great 
error  we  commit  as  a  nation,  by  not  employing  such  persons,  so 
made  free,  to  the  most  advantageous  purposes  in  crushing  out  the 
present  rebellion,  even  if  it  be  to  arm  and  fight  them  against  the  reb- 
ellious hosts  that  oppose  us. 

But  these  resolutions  seemed  too  radical,  and  many  opposed  them 
strongly.  However  before  three  months  rolled  around,  the  very  men 
who  were  the  bitterest  and  loudest  in  their  denunciation  of  them,  at 
at  the  time,  were  seeking  for  commissions  in  colored  regiments. 
The  resolutions  pointed  out,  with  true  prophetic  utterance,  the 
course  which  the  government  pursued  in  regard  to  the  slaves,  but  at 
the  time  they  looked  to  some  as  being  altogether  wrong.  Tempora 
et  mores  mutantur. 


RESOLUTION    PASSED    BY    SENATE    AND    HOUSE    OF 

REPRESENTATIVES  OF  THE  STATE 

OF  LOUISIANA. 

Headquarters  Military  Division  of  the  Miss. 
Goldsboro,  N.  C.,  April  7,  1865. 
Special  Field  Order. ) 

No.  49.  j  EXTRACT. 

The  general  in  chief  announces  for  the  information  of  this  army 
the  following  resolutions  received  : 

WHEREAS,  The  official  announcement  of  the  fall  of  Charleston, 
the  "  cradle  of  secession,"  has  heen  received,  therefore,  be  it 

Resolved  by  the  senate  and  house  of  representatives  of  the  state 
of  Louisiana  in  general  assembly  convened,  that  we  tender  our  most 
hearty  thanks  to  the  gallant  officers  and  men  of  the  army  of  the 
illustrious  Sherman,  who  under  God  have  been  the  instruments  of 
the  accomplishment  of  so  glorious  an  achievement.  Be  it  further 

Resolved,  That  in  the  late  glorious  victory   of  Gen.  Sherman,  we 
recognize  the  hand  of  God,  as  directing  the  affairs  of  our  country, 
and  as  an  evidence  of  the  speedy  return  of  peace. 
[SIGNED.]     SIMON  BELDON, 

Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 
[SIGNED.]     J.  MADISON  WELLS, 

Lt.  Gov.  and  Prest.  of  the  Senate. 
Approved  March  3rd,  1865. 
By  order  of  Major  General  W.  T.  Sherman. 

[SIGNED.]     L.  M.  DAYTON,  A.  A.  G. 


ORDER  RETURNING  THE    THANKS    OF    THE    PRESI- 
DENT TO  GEN.  SHERMAN  AND  THE  ARMY. 

Headquarters  i4th  Army  Corps,  Department  of  the  Cumberland, 

Near  Jonesboro,  Ga.,  Sept.  6th,  1864. 
ORDERS. — The  general  commanding  directs  that  the  following  or- 


1 66  THE    I25TH    REGIMENT    I.   V.    I. 

der  be  published  to  all  the  troops  composing  the  army  of  the  Cum- 
berland. 

Headquarters  Military  Division  of  the  Miss. 
In  the  field  near  Jonesboro,  Ga.,  Sept.  6th,  1864. 
Special  Field  Order.  \ 
No.  66.  j 

I.     The  general  in  chief  communicates  with  a  feeling  of  just  pride 
and  satisfaction  the  following  orders  of  the  president  of  the  United 
States,  and  telegram  of  Lieut  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant,  on  the  hearing  of 
the  capture  of  Atlanta, 
ist.         Executive  Mansion,  Washington,  D.  C.,  Sept.  3rd,  1864. 

The  national  thanks  are  rendered  by  the  president  to  Major  Gen- 
eral W.  T.  Sherman  and  the  gallant  officers  and  soldiers  of  his  com- 
mand before  Atlanta,  for  the  distinguished  ability,  courage  and  per- 
severance displayed  in  the  campaign  in  Georgia,  which,  under  the 
divine  favor,  has  resulted  in  the  capture  of  the  city  of  Atlanta.  The 
marches,  battles,  sieges  and  other  military  operations  that  have  sig- 
nalized the  campaign  must  render  it  famous  in  the  annals  of  war, 
and  have  entitled  those  who  have  participated  therein  to  the  applause 
and  thanks  of  the  nation. 

[SIGNED.]     ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

President  U.  S. 

2nd.  Executive  Mansion,  Washington  City,  Sept.  3rd,  1864. 

ORDERED  :  First.  That  on  Monday  the  5th  day  of  September, 
commencing  at  the  hour  of  twelve  o'clock  m.,  there  shall  be  given 
a  salute  of  one  hundred  (100)  guns  at  the  arsenals  and  navy  yards 
at  Washington,  and  on  Tuesday  the  6th  day  of  September,  the  day 
after  the  receipt  of  this  order  at  each  arsenal  and  navy  yard  in  the 
United  States  for  the  recent  brilliant  achievements  of  the  fleet  and 
land  forces  of  the  United  States  in  the  harbor  of  Mobile,  and  in 
the  reduction  of  Fort  Powell,  Fort  Gaines  and  Fort  Morgan.  The 
secretary  of  war  and  secretary  of  navy  will  issue  the  necessary  or- 
ders in  their  respective  departments  for  the  execution  of  this  order. 

Second.  That  on  Wednesday,  the  seventh  day  of  September, 
commencing  at  the  hour  of  twelve  o'clock  m.,  there  shall  be  a  final 
salute  of  one  hundred  (100)  guns  at  the  arsenal  at  Washington  and 
at  New  York,  Boston,  Philadelphia,  Baltimore,  Pittsburg,  Newport, 
Ky.  ;  St.  Louis,  New  Orleans,  Mobile,  Pensacola,  Hilton  Head  and 
Newbern,  or  on  the  day  after  the  receipt  of  this  order,  for  the  bril- 
liant achievements  of  the  army  under  command  of  Major  General 
Sherman  in  the  state  of  Georgia  and  the  capture  of  Atlanta.  The 
Secretary  of  war  will  issue  directious  for  the  execution  of  this  order. 
[SIGNED.]  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

President  U.  S. 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.    V.  I.  167 

3rd.  City  Point,  Va.,  Sept.  4th,  9  p.  m.,  1864. 

MAJOR  GENERAL  SHERMAN :  I  have  just  received  your  dispatch 
announcing  the  capture  of  Atlanta.  In  honor  of  your  great  victory 
I  have  ordered  a  salute  to  be  fired  with  shotted  guns  from  every 
battery  bearing  upon  the  enemy.  The  salute  will  be  fired  within 
an  hour  amid  great  rejoicing. 

[SIGNED.]     U.  S.  GRANT, 

Lieutenant  General. 

II.     All  the  corps,  regiments  and  batteries  composing  this  army 
may,  without  further  orders,  inscribe  "  Atlanta"  on  their  colors. 
By  order  of  Major  General  VV.  T.  Sherman. 

[SIGNED.]     L.  M.  DAYTON, 

Aid-de-camp. 


ORDER  ANNOUNCING  SUSPENSION  OF  HOSTILITIES. 

Headquarters  Military  Division  of  the  Mississippi, 

Army  of  Georgia,  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  April  27,  1865. 
Special  Field  Order.  \ 
No.  65.  j" 

The  General  commanding  announces  a  further  suspension  of  hos- 
tilities, and  a  final  agreement  with  General  Johnston  which  termin- 
ates the  war  as  to  the  armies  under  his  command,  and  the  country 
east  of  the  Chattahoochie.  Copies  of  the  terms  of  the  convention 
will  be  furnished  Maj.  Gens.  Schofield,  Gilmore  and  Wilson,  who 
are  especially  charged  with  the  execution  of  its  details  in  the  De- 
partment of  N.  C.,  Department  of  the  South,  and  at  Macon  and 
Western  Georgia.  Captain  Jasper  Mayres,  Ordnance  Department, 
U.  S.  A.,  is  hereby  designated  to  receive  the  arms,  etc.,  at  Greens- 
boro, and  any  commanding  officer  of  any  post  may  receive  the  arms 
of  any  detachment,  and  see  that  they  are  properly  stored  and  ac- 
counted for.  General  Schofield  will  procure  the  necessary  blanks 
and  supply  the  other  army  commanders,  that  uniformity  may  pre- 
vail, and  great  care  must  be  taken  that  all  the  terms  and  stipulations 
on  our  part  be  fulfilled  with  the  most  scrupuluous  fidelity  ;  while 
those  imposed  on  our  hitherto  enemies,  be  received  in  a  spirit  be- 
coming a  brave  and  generous  army.  Army  commanders  may  at 
once  leave  to  the  inhabitants  such  of  the  captured  mules,  horses, 
wagons  and  vehicles  as  can  be  spared  from  immediate  use,  and  the 
commanding  general  of  armies  may  issue  provisions,  animals,  or 
any  public  property  that  can  be  spared  to  relieve  present  wants,  and 


1 68  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 

to  encourage  the  inhabitants  to  resume  their  peaceful  pursuits,  and 
to  restore  the  relation  of  friendship  among  our  fellow  citizens  and 
countrymen. 

Foraging  will  forthwith  cease,  and  when  necessity  for  long  march- 
es compels  the  taking  of  forage,  provisions,  or  any  kind  of  public 
property,  compensation  will  be  made  on  the  spot,  or  when  the  dis- 
bursing officers  are  not  provided  with  funds,  vouchers  will  be  given 
in  proper  form,  payable  at  the  nearest  military  depot. 

By  order  of 

Maj.  Gen.  W.  T.  Sherman. 
(Signed)  L.  M.  Dayton, 

Asst.  Adjt.  Gen. 


ORDER  FOR  THE  GRAND  REVIEW  AT  RICHMOND,  VA. 

Headquarters  i4th  Army  Corps.  Army  of  Georgia, 

Manchester,  Va.,  May  8,  1865. 
Special  Field  Orders,  \ 
No.  41.  ]" 

Division  commanders  will,  if  possible,  obtain  all  necessary  sup- 
plies, and  move  their  supply  trains  through  Richmond  to-morrow, 
and  park  them  in  the  vicinity  of  Hanover  Court  House,  to-morrow 
night. 

On  the  following  day,  May  loth,  the  Army  of  Georgia  will  march 
through  the  streets  of  Richmond  in  review  before  Maj.  Gen.  H.  W. 
Halleck,  commanding  the  military  division  of  the  James,  the  i4th 
army  corps  in  advance.  The  column  entirely  unincumbered  with 
wagons,  will  be  formed  as  follows :  3rd  division,  Brevet  Maj.  Gen. 
Baird  commanding.  2nd  division,  Brevet  Maj.  Gen.  Morgan,  ist 
division,  Brigadier  Gen.  Walcott.  The  head  of  the  column  will  be 
at  the  ponto*on  bridge  and  ready  to  move  at  7:30  a.  m.  The  column 
will  cross  the  upper  pontoon  bridge,  move  up  iyth  street  to  Gary 
street,  down  Gary  to  2ist  street,  up  2ist  to  Main  street,  up  Main  to 
i3th  street,  up  i3th  to  Capitol  street,  through  Capitol  to  Grace  St., 
up  Grace  street  to  Adams  street,  and  thence  to  Brooks  avenue. 

The  troops  will  be  reviewed  with  knapsacks,  and  will  carry  at  least 
one  day's  rations  in  their  haversacks.  The  troops,  marching  at  right 
shoulder  shift,  will  come  to  a  shoulder  arms  before  passing  the  Statue 
of  Washington,  near  the  capitol,  and  will  continue  the  shoulder  un- 
til pas'sing  the  reviewing  officer,  who  will  be  near  the  same  point. 
Upon  passing  all  troops  under  arms,  or  general  officers,  the  usual 


THE  I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I.  169 

compliment  of  coming  to  a  shoulder  will  be  paid.  When  the  width 
of  the  street  will  permit,  the  troops  will  march  in  column  of  com- 
panies. Neither  band  nor  field  musicians  will  turn  out  before  the 
reviewing  officer. 

After  passing  through  the  city,  the  troops  will  encamp  the  same 
night  in  the  vicinity  of  Hanover  Court  House.  All  pack  mules, 
wagons  and  ambulances,  not  sent  through  the  city  before  the  loth 
instant,  will  be  massed  near  the  bridge,  and  will,  under  the  super- 
vision of  the  chief  quarter  master  of  the  corps,  cross  the  lower  pon- 
toon bridge  at  the  same  time  the  troops  are  passing  on  the  upper 
bridge,  move  down  Water  street,  to  22nd  street,  up  22nd  to  Frank- 
lin street,  up  Franklin  street  to  igth  street,  up  igth  to  Mechanics- 
ville  turnpike,  from  which  road  they  will  join  their  commands  with- 
out interfering  with  the  march  of  the  troops. 
By  order  of 

Brevet  Maj.  Gen.  J.  C.  Davis. 

(Signed)  A.  C.  McClurg, 
Lieut.  Col.  and  Chief  of  Staff. 


GENERAL    SHERMAN'S    FAREWELL    ORDER     TO    HIS 

ARMY. 

Headquarters  Military  Division  of  the  Mississippi. 
In  the  field,  Washington,  D.  C.,  May  3oth,  1865. 
Special  Field  Order.  \ 
No.  76.  j 

The  general  commanding  announces  to  the  armies  of  the  Ten- 
nessee and  Georgia,  that  the  time  has  come  for  us  to  part.  Our 
work  is  done  and  armed  enemies  no  longer  defy  us.  Some  of  you 
will  be  retained  in  service  until  further  orders.  And  now  that  we 
are  about  to  separate  to  mingle  with  the  civil  world,  it  becomes  a 
pleasing  duty  to  recall  to  mind  the  situation  of  national  affairs, 
when  but  little  more  than  a  year  ago  we  were  gathered  about  the 
towering  cliffs  of  Lookout  mountain,  and  all  the  future  was  wrapped 
in  doubt  and  uncertainty.  Three  armies  had  come  together  from 
distant  fields,  with  separate  histories,  yet  bound  by  one  common 
cause,  the  union  of  our  country,  and  the  perpetuation  of  the  gov- 
ernment of  our  inheritance.  There  is  no  need  to  recall  to  your 
memories  Tunnel  Hill,  with  Rocky  Face  mountain,  and  Buzzard 
Roost  Gap,  with  the  ugly  forts  of  Dalton  behind.  We  were  in 
earnest  and  paused  not  for  danger  and  difficulty,  but  dashed  through 
22 


170  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I. 

Snake  Creek  Gap  and  fell  on  Resaca,  then  on  to  the  Etowah,  to 
Dallas,  Kenesaw,  and  the  heats  of  summer  found  us  on  the  banks 
of  the  Chattahoochie,  far  from  home  and  dependent  on  a  single 
road  for  supplies.  Again  we  were  not  to  be  held  back  by  any  ob- 
stacle, and  crossed  over  and  fought  four  heavy  battles  for  the  pos- 
session of  the  citadel  of  Atlanta.  That  was  the  crisis  of  our  his- 
tory. A  doubt  still  clouded  our  future,  but  we  solved  the  problem, 
and  destroyed  Atlanta,  struck  boldly  across  the  state  of  Georgia, 
severed  all  the  main  arteries  of  life  to  our  enemy,  and  Christmas 
found  us  at  Savannah.  Waiting  there  only  long  enough  to  fill  our 
wagons,  we  again  began  a  march  which  for  peril,  labor  and  results, 
will  compare  with  any  ever  made  by  an  organized  army.  The  floods 
of  the  Savannah,  the  swamps  of  the  Combahee  and  Edisto,  the  high 
hills  and  rocks  of  the  Santee,  the  flat  quagmires  of  the  Pedee  and 
Cape  Fear  rivers  were  all  passed  in  midwinter,  with  its  floods  and 
rains  in  the  face  of  an  accumulating  enemy,  and  after  the  battles  of 
Averysboro  and  Bentonville,  we  once  more  came  out  of  the  wilder- 
ness to  meet  our  friends  at  Goldsboro.  Even  there  we  paused  only 
long  enough  to  get  our  clothing,  to  reload  our  wagons,  and  again 
pushed  on  to  Raleigh  and  beyond,  until  we  met  our  enemy  sueing 
for  peace  instead  of  war,  and  offering  to  submit  to  the  enjoined  laws 
of  his  and  our  country.  As  long  as  that  enemy  was  defiant,  nor 
mountains,  nor  rivers,  nor  swamps,  nor  hunger,  nor  cold  had  checked 
us,  but  when  he  who  had  fought  us  hard  and  persistently  offered 
submission,  your  general  thought  it  wrong  to  pursue  him  farther,  and 
negotiations  followed  which  resulted  as  you  all  know  in  his  surren- 
der. How  the  operations  of  this  army  have  contributed  to  the  final 
overthrow  of  the  confederacy  and  the  peace  which  now  dawns  on 
as,  must  be  judged  by  others,  not  by  us,  but  that  you  have  done  all 
that  men  could  do,  has  been  admitted  by  those  in  authority,  and  we 
have  a  right  to  join  in  the  universal  joy  that  fills  our  land  because 
the  war  is  over,  and  our  government  stands  vindicated  before  the 
world  by  the  just  action  of  the  "volunteer  armies  of  the  United 
States." 

To  such  as  remain  in  the  military  service,  your  general  need  only 
remind  you  that  success  in  the  past  was  due  to  hard  work  and  dis- 
cipline, and  that  the  same  work  and  discipline  are  equally  important 
in  the  future.  To  such  as  go  home,  he  will  only  say  that  our  favored 
country  is  so  grand,  so  extensive,  so  diversified  in  climate,  soil  and 
productions,  that  every  man  may  find  a  home  and  occupation  suited 
to  his  taste,  and  none  should  yield  to  the  natural  impatience  sure  to 
result  from  our  past  life  of  excitement  and  adventure.  You  will  be 
invited  to  seek  new  adventures  abroad,  but  do  not  yield  to  the  temp- 
tation, for  it  will  lead  only  to  death  and  disappointment.  Your 
general  now  bids  you  all  farewell  with  the  full  belief  that  as  in  war 


THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I.  171 

you  have  been  good  soldiers,  so  in  peace  you  will  make  good  citi- 
zens, and  if,  unfortunately,  new  war  should  arise  in  our  country, 
"  Sherman's  army"  will  be  the  first  to  buckle  on  its  old  armor  and 
come  forth  to  defend  and  maintain  the  government  of  our  inheri- 
tance and  choice. 

By  order  of 

Maj.  Gen.  W.  T.  Sherman. 

(Signed.)  L.  M.   Dayton, 

Asst.  Adjt.  Gen'l. 


REGIMENTAL  REPORT  OF  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN. 

Headquarters  1251)1  Regt.  Ills.  Vols., 

Atlanta,  Ga.,  Sept.  yth,  1864. 

SIR  :  In  compliance  with  orders  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the 
following  report  of  the  part  taken  by  this  command  in  the  recent 
campaign,  from  its  commencement  in  May,  until  its  arrival  at  Atlan- 
ta on  the  4th  instant. 

In  order  for  me  to  make  this  report  nearly  accurate,  I  must  de- 
pend mainly  upon  the  notes  of  Col.  O.  F.  Harmon  and  Lieut.  Col. 
James  W.  Langley,  respectively,  commanders  of  the  regiment  from 
the  commencement  of  the  campaign  until  the  first  day  of  the  pres- 
ent month,  when  the  command  fell  to  me. 

Forming  a  part  of  the  3rd  brigade,  2nd  division,  i4th  army  corps, 
this  regiment,  commanded  by  Col.  O.  F.  Harmon,  numbering  four 
hundred  and  forty-nine  effective  men,  left  Lee  and  Gordon's  mills. 
Ga.,  on  the  3rd  day  of  May  last,  where  it  had  being  doing,  in  con- 
nection with  the  brigade  commanded  by  Col.  Danl.  McCook,  out- 
post duty,  and  marched  to  Ringgold,  where  it  joined  the  division 
commanded  by  Brig.  Gen.  Jeff.  C.  Davis.  After  a  day  or  two  of 
rest  at  the  last  named  place,  the  forward  march  was  resumed  and 
continued  until  we  faced  the  enemy  before  Buzzard  Roost  Gap,  on 
the  road  to  this  point,  skirmishing  with  the  retreating  foe  at  different 
points,  and  at  Buzzard  Roost  we  were  most  of  the  time,  during  sev- 
eral days,  actively  engaged  with  the  enemy's  skirmishers,  but  lost  no 
men.  The  regiment  participated  in  the  flank  movement  through 
Snake  Creek  Gap,  which  move  gained  Buzzard  Roost.  This  march 
was  long  and  tedious,  but  was  borne  by  all  cheerfully  and  without 
complaint.  At  Resaca  we  met  the  enemy  and  were  engaged  active- 
ly with  him.  The  regiment  occupied  a  temporary  line  of  works  im- 
mediately in  front  of,  and  but  a  few  hundred  yards  from,  the  works 


172  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I. 

of  the  opposing  forces.  Here,  as  in  previous  instances,  every  man 
did  his  duty,  until  the  flight  of  the  enemy  from  Resaca,  on  the 
night  of  the  i4th  of  May,  opened  the  following  morning  a  new  field 
of  labor.  An  expedition  to  Rome,  Ga.,  was  fitted  out  for  our  divi- 
sion, and  on  the  morning  of  the  i5th,  the  regiment  was  detailed 
with  one  section  of  battery  I,  2nd  Ills.  Arty.,  to  command  and  guard 
the  division  supply  and  ordnance  train  in  rear  of  the  marching  col- 
umn of  the  division  to  that  city.  The  regiment  took  no  part  in  the 
fight  at  Rome  on  the  lyth  ;  arrived  with  its  important  charge  on  the 
following  day;  remained  at  Rome  doing  various  duty  until  the  24th 
day  of  May,  when  the  entire  division  took  up  its  line  of  march  to- 
wards Dallas.  Joined  the  army  of  the  Tennessee,  to  which  the  div- 
ision was  temporarily  attached,  near  the  last  named  place,  on  the 
26th  day  of  May.  The  next  encounter  with  the  enemy,  was  at 
Dallas,  on  the  night  of  the  27th  of  May.  when  we  were  attacked  by 
a  superior  force  while  engaged  in  relieving  'the  22nd  Ind.,  who  were 
doing  picket  duty.  The  enemy  succeeded  in  capturing,  owing  to 
the  unavoidable  condition  of  the  lines  at  that  moment,  fourteen  en- 
listed men,  and  one  commissioned  officer,  and  wounding  three  others, 
enlisted  men.  But  this  temporary  disaster  was  quickly,  though  but 
partially,  compensated,  by  the  capture  of  one  captain,  one  lieuten- 
ant and  twenty-five  enlisted  men  from  the  enemy.  On  the  follow- 
ing morning  the  pickets  drove  the  enemy  back  with  a  loss  of  twenty 
killed  and  wounded,  but  two  men  wounded  on  our  side.  Until  we 
reached  Kenesaw  Mountain  on  the  27th  of  June,  nothing  worthy 
of  note  occurred,  although  we  daily  faced  the  foe.  At  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  on  the  morning  of  the  27th  of  June,  the  regiment,  in 
connection  with  the  brigade,  formed  part  of  the  attacking  column 
that  was  on  that  day  hurled  against  the  enemy's  works.  The  i25th 
regiment  was  the  formost  in  the  brigade.  The  conflict  was  short 
and  bloody,  and  it  is  painful  to  record  that  a  repulse  to  our  forces 
along  the  entire  line,  was  the  result.  Never  fought  troops  better 
than  on  that  day,  and  attention  is  called  to  the  casulties  in  this  com- 
mand alone,  which  were  one  hundred  and  twenty  in  the  short  space 
of  twenty  minutes,  nearly  one  half  of  which  were  in  the  list  of  killed, 
and  also  that  the  brigade  rallied  within  sixty  yards  of  the  enemy's 
works,  threw  up  intrenchments  under  a  heavy  fire,  and  held  them 
until  the  night  of  July  3rd,  when  the  enemy  evacuated  their  lines 
and  retreated  towards  Atlanta.  In  the  above  mentioned  engage- 
ment we  lost  several  brave  officers  and  men,  chief  among  whom  was 
the  colonel  of  the  regiment,  of  whom  it  may  not  be  inappropriate 
here  to  remark  that  a  braver  or  more  efficient  officer  in  line  of  his 
peculiar  duties,  the  army  of  the  Uuion  does  not  contain.  The  com- 
mand at  this  point  devolved  upon  Lt.  Col.  James  W.  Langley,  who 
commanded  the  regiment  through  the  engagement  at  the  Chatta- 


THE  I25TH  REGIMENT  I.    V.  I.  173 

hoochie  river,  July  5th,  and  at  Peach  Tree  creek,  on  the  igth  of 
July,  in  both  of  which  it  was  actively  engaged,  and  subsequently 
until,  in  the  midst  of  the  battle  of  Jonesboro,  Sept  ist,  when  Col. 
Dilworth,  brigade  commander,  was  wounded  and  carried  off  the 
field,  the  command  of  the  brigade  devolved  upon  him  (  Lt.  Colonel 
Langley),  and  that  of  the  regiment  upon  myself.  During  the  whole 
of  the  engagement  at  Jonesboro,  the  officers  and  men  exhibited 
courage  worthy  of  the  cause  for  which  they  fought.  The  regiment 
while  yet  under  command  of  Col.  Langley,  reached  the  crest  of  the 
hill  just  in  front  of  the  rebel  battery  engaging  the  enemy  in  the  open 
field,  contributed  greatly  in  aiding  the  2nd  brigade  on  our  left  to 
scale  the  enemies'  works.  Here  they  fought  with  the  desperation  of 
men  determined  to  win,  and  they  did  win,  though  not  until  my  regi- 
ment had  lost  an  officer  and  three  men  killed,  thirty  enlisted  men 
wounded,  some  six  or  eight  of  them  mortally.  At  dark  the  regi- 
ment was  formed  in  line  with  the  85th,  86th  and  noth  Ills.,  when 
we  built  a  strong  line  of  works.  The  troops  were  marched  to  Jones- 
boro and  put  in  temporary  camp.  The  regiment  and  brigade  were 
ordered  to  Atlanta,  Sept.  4th,  in  charge  of  nearly  two  thousand  pris- 
oners captured  in  the  Jonesboro  fight,  and  went  into  camp  at  this 
place,  where  it  now  remains,  and  it  is  sincerely  hoped,  that  if  the 
campaign  is  over,  it  will  remain  until,  in  the  opinion  of  the  powers 
that  be,  it  is  needed  in  the  field  for  active  operations. 

I  respectfully  submit  and  herewith  transmit,  a  list  of  casualties  in 
the  command  since  May  3rd,  up  to  the  close  of  this  campaign.  In 
conclusion  I  would  say  in  behalf  of  the  officers  and  enlisted  men  of 
this  regiment,  that  they,  with  few  exceptions,  most  manfully  and 
soldierly  in  every  engagement  in  which  the  regiment  has  participa- 
ted, stood  up  and  faced  the  foe,  while  many  fell  dead  on  the  field. 
It  would  be  difficult  to  make  special  mention  of  names,  and  do  am- 
ple justice  to  all  and  injustice  to  none.  A  grateful  country  will  re- 
ward them  all  for  their  noble  services.  The  survivors  of  Kenesaw 
and  subsequent  battles,  can  never  forget  our  patriotic  dead,  Colonel 
Harmon,  Captains  Fellows  and  Lee,  and  Lt.  McClane,  fell  at  the 
former  place  where  duty  called  them.  At  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Lieut. 
Jones,  of  company  D,  commanding  company  B,  died  as  he  had 
lived,  a  true  Christian  soldier.  Lieut.  White,  who  so  nobly  fell  at 
the  crossing  of  the  Sand  Town  road,  was  loved  and  respected  by  all 
whose  good  fortune  it  was  to  have  his  acquaintance.  Again  at 
Jonesboro,  the  daring  and  faithful  Captain  Charles  fell  in  the  dis- 
charge of  his  immediate  duty.  So,  too,  Sergeant  Thralls,  who  for 
more  than  two  months,  had  commanded  company  B,  wounded  in 
the  leg  during  the  hottest  of  the  engagement,  received  his  fatal  wound 
from  a  stray  bullet  while  his  wound  was  being  dressed.  My  confi- 


174  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I. 

dence  in  him  as  a  company  commander,  was  always  firm,  because  I 
knew  him  to  be  a  brave  man. 

Very  Respectfully, 

Your  obdt.  servant. 
(Signed.)  G.  W.  Cook. 

Captain  commanding  regiment. 

List  of  casualties  in  the  i25th  regiment  Illinois  volunteer  infantry 
from  May  3rd  to  September  6th,  1864  : 

May  nth,  Buzzard  Roost,  Ga.,  i  enlisted  man  wounded. 

May  1 5th,  Resaca,  Ga.,  i  enlisted  man  wounded. 

May  3ist,  Dallas,  Ga.,  i  commissioned  officer  missing,  5  enlisted 
men  wounded,  14  missing. 

June  27th,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Ga.,  4  commissioned  officers  kill- 
ed, i  missing  ;  50  enlisted  men  killed,  63  wounded,  6  missing. 

July  5th,  Chattahoochie  River,  Ga.,  i  commissioned  officer 
wounded. 

July  i  pth,  Peach  Tree  Creek,  i  commissioned  officer  killed,  i  en- 
listed man  killed,  3  wounded,  i  missing. 

August  5th  to  12,  before  Atlanta,  Ga.,  i  commissioned  officer 
killed,  3  wounded  ;  13  enlisted  men  wounded. 

Sept.  ist,  Jonesboro,  Ga ,  i  commissioned  officer  killed,  6  enlisted 
men  killed,  29  wounded. 

RECAPITULATION. 

Commissioned  officers  killed 7 

wounded 4 

missing 2 

Enlisted  men  killed 57 

wounded 115 

missing , 21 


Total 206 

Respectfully  submitted, 

(Signed.)  Geo.  W.  Cook, 

Captain  Commanding. 


REPORT  OF    SAVANNAH  CAMPAIGN. 

Headquarters  i25th  Regiment  Illinois  Volunteers, 
Near  Savannah,  Ga.,  December  29th,  1864. 

SIR  :  In  pursuance  of  orders,  I  have  the  honor  to  respectfully 
submit  the  following  report  of  the  operations  of  my  command  from 
the  fall  of  Atlanta  to  the  fall  of  Savannah  : 

Reached  Atlanta  on  the  4th  day  of  September  last,  at  which  point 
it  remained  in  a  state  of  inactivity,  resting  from  the  fatigues  incurred 
on  the  previous  campaign,  until  the  2Qth  of  same  month  when,  in 
connection  with  the  brigade,  it  started  for  Florence,  Alabama,  by 
rail,  via  Chattanooga,  Huntsville  and  Athens,  to  check  the  advance 
of  Gen.  Forrest,  who  was  marching  through  that  district.  It  did 
not  proceed  as  far  as  Florence,  owing  to  its  having  been  ordered 
back  to  Huntsville  on  train  guard  duty,  and  upon  returning  was  pre- 
vented from  rejoining  the  balance  of  the  troops  composing  the  ex- 
pedition, by  the  rapid  rise  of  Elk  river. 

Remained  at  Athens  until  the  return  of  the  brigade  from  Flor- 
ence, performing  while  there  daily  picket  duty.  Left  the  former 
place  on  the  i3th  day  of  October  and  reached  Chattanooga  on  the 
1 4th.  Remained  at  the  last  named  point  four  days,  when  we  started 
for  and  rejoined  the  corps  at  Galeville,  Ala.,  on  the  22nd.  Remain- 
ed at  this  place  several  days,  when  the  column  was  headed  toward 
Atlanta,  Ga.,  which  we  reached  Nov.  i5th,  having  made  short  halts 
at  Rome,  Kingston  and  Cartersville.  Between  the  last  named  place 
and  Atlanta,  the  command  was  engaged  in  "  demoralizing"  the  rail- 
road, the  extent  of  which  will  be  found  in  subjoined  recapitulation. 

On  the  1 6th  of  November,  having  obtained  a  thorough  outfit 
and  forming  a  part  of  the  left  wing  of  the  grand  army,  it  started  for 
the  "new  base."  Reached  Savannah  2ist  inst.,  upon  the  previous 
evacuation  of  the  city,  and  went  into  camp  about  two  miles  from 
the  place,  where  it  now  remains  ready  at  any  moment  to  "  strike 
tents,"  hoping  that  its  next  field  of  operations  will  be  South  Caro- 
lina. With  the  exception  of  a  slight  skirmish  with  the  enemy  in 
front  of  Louisville,  Ga.,  nothing  occurred  to  disturb  the  equilibrium 
of  the  march  between  Atlanta  and  Savannah.  During  the  entire 
march  the  command  subsisted  upon  supplies  found  in  the  country, 
(which  were  abundant)  with  the  exception  of  five  days  issue  from 
the  regular  supplies,  thus  destroying  vast  quantities  of  material  be- 


176  THE    I25TH    REGIMENT    I.   V.    I. 

longing  to  the  enemy,  and  contributing  much  to  the  bone  and  mus- 
cle of  the  army. 

Forage  was  obtained  to  subsist  all  animals   including  those  cap- 
tured. 

This  command  destroyed  no  cotton  or  gins  owing  to  the  fact  that 
such  duty  was  not  assigned  it.     Deeming  negroes  an  encumbrance 
they  were  prohibited  from  attaching  themselves  to  the  command. 
I  am  Sir 

Very  Respectfully 

Your  Obedient  Servant, 
(Signed.)  Geo.  W.  Cook, 

Captain  Commanding  Regiment. 

Number  of  miles  railroad  destroyed 2 

Cotton none. 

Gins none. 

Number  of  horses  captured 6 

mules         "         25 

Supplies  obtained  and  brought  to  Savannah none. 

Enlisted  men  killed , i 

"  wounded. .  i 


CAMPAIGN  REPORT    FROM    SAVANNAH    TO  BENTON- 

VILLE. 

Headquarters  i25th  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry, 
Goldsboro.  N.  C,  March  28th,  1865. 

CAPTAIN  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  herewith  a  report  of  the 
operations  of  my  command  from  the  day  on  which  it  left  Savannah, 
Georgia,  until  I  assumed  command  of  the  brigade  on  igth  day  of 
the  present  month  : 

January  2oth,  1865.  My  command  left  camp  at  7  o'clock  a.  m. 
and  marched  8  miles  on  the  Louisville  road,  and  went  into  camp 
where  we  remained  four  days.  On  the  24th  of  January  regiment 
was  ordered  on  fatigue  duty,  cut  poles  and  built  350  yards  corduroy 
road. 

January  25.     Left  camp  at  7  a.  m.  and  marched  18  miles. 

January  26.  Left  camp  at  7  a.  m.  and  marched  over  very  bad 
roads  for  8  miles.  Encamped  for  the  night  one  mile  north  of 
Springfield,  Ga. 

January  27.     Left  camp  at  7  a.  m.     This  and  the  22nd  regiment 


THE    I25TH    REGIMENT   I.    V.    I.  177 

Indiana  volunteers  were  detailed  as  train  guards,  both  under  my 
command.  Guards  and  trains  were  delayed  nearly  all  day  at  the 
confluence  of  several  small  streams  called  the  "  Runs."  The  com- 
mand reached  camp  at  10  p.  m.,  having  marched  but  five  miles. 

January  28.  Left  camp  at  8  a.  m.  and  marched  to  within  one 
mile  of  Sister's  Ferry  on  the  Savannah  river,  where  we  went  into 
camp  and  remained  until  February  5th  at  6  p.  m.,  when  the  com- 
mand crossed  the  river  and  excamped  on  the  South  Carolina  side, 
where  it  remained  until  February  8th,  when  we  marched  at  7  a.  m. 
and  camped  at  night  at  Brighton,  having  travelled  only  7  miles,  but 
over  very  bad  roads. 

February  9.  Left  camp  at  7  a.  m.  and  marched  rapidly  all  day 
over  good  roads.  Made  20  miles  and  went  into  camp  at  5  p.  m. 

February  10.  Left  camp  at  6:30  a.  m.,  marched  20  miles  over 
good  roads  and  went  into  camp. 

February  n.  Left  camp  at  6:30  a.  m.  This  and  22nd  regiment 
Indiana  volunteers  were  detailed  as  train  guards  under  my  command. 
Marched  through  Barnwell  and  reached  camp  late,  having  made 
about  12  miles. 

February  12.  Left  camp  at  6:30  a.  m. ;  passed  through  Williston, 
on  the  Augusta  and  Charleston  railroad,  about  noon.  Marched  18 
miles  and  encamped  at  night  on  the  Edisto  river. 

February  13.  Crossed  the  Edisto  at  6:30  a.  m,  and  worked  on 
the  north  side  three  hours  building  corduroy  roads.  Went  into 
camp  two  miles  beyond  the  river  at  10  a.  m.,  and  marched  again  at 
i  p.  m.,  moved  five  miles  and  went  into  camp  for  night. 

February  14.  Left  camp  at  6:30  a.  m.  and  marched  20  miles, 
crossing  north  Edisto  in  the  route. 

February  15.  Left  camp  at  7:30  a.  m.,  marched  20  miles  and  en- 
camped at  night  two  miles  from  Lexington. 

February  16.  Left  camp  at  6  a.  m.  ;  marched  to  near  Columbia, 
S.  C.  On  the  afternoon  of  this  day  the  command  made  a  retro- 
grade movement  five  miles  and  encamped  at  night  on  the  south  side 
of  Sal  u  da  river. 

February  17.  Left  camp  at  6  a.  m.,  crossed  the  Saluda,  marched 
20  miles  and  encamped  for  the  night  on  Broad  river. 

February  18.  The  command  crossed  Broad  river  at  9  a.  m.  and 
went  into  position  on  the  north  side  to  the  left  and  front  of  the  2nd 
brigade.  At  3  p.  m.  I  was  ordered  with  my  regiment  to  make  a 
reconnoisance  towards  the  Winnsboro  road.  Went  about  four  miles, 
crossed  Little  river,  and  with  one  company  pushed  skirmishers  as 
far  as  directed.  I  then  withdrew,  recrossed  Little  river  and  returned 
to  camp. 

February  19.  The  command  tore  up  and  effectually  destroyed 
475  yards  of  railroad  track  and  ties  and  marched  four  miles. 

23 


178  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I. 

February  20.     Marched  at  6  a.  m.  and  encamped  on  Little  river. 

February  2ist.  Left  camp  at  2  p.  m.  This  and  the  52nd  Ohio 
regiment,  were  detailed  as  rear  guard  for  the  corps  train.  Reached 
camp  at  ri  p.  m.,  having  marched  15  miles. 

February  22nd.     Marched  6  miles  and  went  into  camp. 

February  23rd.     Marched  10  miles  and  went  into  camp. 

February  24th.  Crossed  Catawba  river.  Regiment  worked  all 
day  assisting  wagons  out  of  the  mud  and  corduroying  roads. 

February  25th.     Worked  all  day  on  roads. 

February  26th.     Worked  five  companies  all  day  on  roads. 

February  2yth.  No  move.  Worked  five  companies  one  half  day 
on  roads. 

February  28th.  Left  camp  at  i  p.  m.  Assisted  part  of  corps 
train  up  the  hill  on  north  side  of  Catawba  river,  after  which  the  com- 
mand marched  five  miles  as  train  guard,  and  reached  camp  at  10  p.m. 

March  ist.     Left  camp  at  6  a.  m.,  and  marched  21  miles. 

March  2nd.     Left  camp  at  6  a.  m.,  and  marched  13  miles. 

March  3rd.  Left  camp  at  6  a.  m.  This  regiment  with  the  52nd 
O.  V.  I.,  under  my  command,  were  detailed  as  train  guards ;  passed 
over  some  very  bad  roads,  and  reached  camp  at  10  p.  m.,  after  a 
march  of  23  miles. 

March  4th.  Left  camp  at  6  a.  m.,  and  encamped  on  the  Great 
Pedee  river  at  4  p.  m.  The  regiment  worked  at  corduroying  roads 
until  after  dark.  The  command  remained  in  camp  until  March  yth. 
at  2  p.  m.,  when  it  moved  down  to  the  pontoon  bridge,  which  it 
crossed  at  4  p.  m.,  after  which  it  marched  one  and  one  half  miles 
and  went  into  camp  for  the  night. 

March  8th.  Left  camp  at  6  a.  m.  Marched  25  miles  and  went 
into  camp  at  6  p.  m. 

March  gth.  Left  camp  at  8  a.  m.  This  regiment,  and  the  52nd 
O.  V.  I.,  and  one  section  of  the  igth  Ind.  battery,  all  under  my 
command,  marched  as  rear  guard  for  the  corps  train.  Crossed 
Downing  creek  at  3  p.  m.,  and  destroyed  the  bridges.  The  van- 
guard of  the  enemy  came  up  before  the  destruction  was  complete, 
but  upon  observing  us.  it  retired.  My  command  did  not  reach  camp 
that  night  We  assisted  wagons  out  of  the  mud  until  3  o'clock  of 
the  morning  of  March  roth  when  the  jaded  and  exhausted  animals 
gave  out,  and  the  guards  rested  by  the  road  side  until  day  light,  when 
we  resumed  the  labor  of  assisting  wagons  over  the  bad  roads.  We 
reached  the  division  camp  at  8  a.  m..  where  we  rested  one  hour  and 
then  resumed  the  march  in  column.  Marched  15  miles  and  went 
into  camp  at  4  p.  m. 

March  nth.  Left  camp  at  9  a.  m.  Marched  to  within  two  miles 
of  Fayetteville,  N.  C.,  and  went  into  camp  at  2  p.  m. 

March  i2th.     Left  camp  at  6  p.  m.     Crossed  the  Cape  Fear  river 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.    V.  I.  179 

at  9  p.  m.,  and  went  into  camp  behind  rebel  fortifications  on  the 
north  side. 

March  ijth.     Moved  two  miles  for  change  of  camp. 

March  i4th.     Remained  in  camp  all  day. 

March  i5th.  Left  camp  at  9  a.  m.  Marched  12  miles  as  rear 
guard  for  trains. 

March  i6th.  Left  camp  at  6  a.  m.  Marched  about  8  miles  and 
met  the  enemy  strongly  entrenched  near  Black  river,  ready  to  dis- 
pute our  further  advance.  My  regiment  went  into  position  about  2 
p.  m  on  the  right  of  the  second  line.  At  4  p.  m.  I  moved  in  reserve 
of  the  brigade  and  at  sundown  took  position  on  the  left  of  the  front 
line  for  the  purpose  of  filling  a  gap  then  existing  between  the  ist 
and  3rd  brigades.  I  established  my  line  within  74  yards  of  the  ene- 
mies' line  of  fortifications,  and  constructed  works.  My  loss  was  one 
man  wounded  severely.  The  enemy  retreated  during  the  night. 

March  i7th.  Left  camp  at  8  a.  m.  Forded  Black  river  and 
Black  Mingo  creek,  and  after  a  march  of  10  miles,  went  into  camp 
for  the  night. 

March  i8th.  Left  camp  at  5:30.  Marched  ri  miles  and  encamp- 
ed at  i  p.  m.  for  the  afternoon  and  night. 

March  igih.  Left  camp  at  9  a.  m.,  and  marched  about  four  miles 
down  the  Goldsboro  road,  at  which  point  we  left  the  road  and  turn- 
ed to  the  right.  Moved  about  one  half  mile  in  this  direction  and 
went  into  position  on  the  right  of  the  second  line,  in  which  position 
we  remained  about  two  hours,  when  we,  with  the  brigade,  were  or- 
dered out,  and  directed  to  push  across  to  the  road  to  our  left.  In 
this  movement  the  brigade  was  in  single  line  with  my  regiment  on 
the  left.  After  wandering  through  numerous  swamps,  over  brush, 
vines  and  briars,  we  reached  a  position  and  formed  line  parallel  with 
the  road.  This  advance  was  disputed  all  the  way  by  rebel  skirmish- 
ers, to  meet  which  I  ordered  out  as  skirmishers,  two  companies  com- 
manded by  Capt.  Halloway.  Our  new  formation  on  the  road  was 
scarcely  completed,  when  heavy  firing  on  the  right  of  the  brigade, 
denoted  that  the  contest  was  to  be  a  severe  one.  Stepping  into  the 
road  and  casting  my  eye  in  the  direction  of  the  firing,  I  observed  a 
strong  column  of  the  enemy,  four  lines  deep,  moving  against  the 
point  where  I  supposed  the  right  of  the  brigade  rested.  My  suppo- 
sitions soon  proved  correct,  and  after  a  brief  contest,  I  observed 
that  the  right  was  giving  away  before  the  advance  of  the  rebel  col- 
umn. At  this  instant  a  line  of  rebels  struck  my  front  and  that  of 
the  left  wing  of  the  22nd  Ind.  on  my  right.  This  line  was  met  by 
our  troops  without  yielding  an  inch,  and  after  a  severe  fight  of  five 
minutes,  the  rebels  fell  back  and  were  easily  kept  at  bay,  by  a  strong 
line  of  skirmishers.  But  not  so  on  my  right,  for  by  this  time  the 
main  column  of  the  enemy  had  advanced  to  within  one  hundred 


l8o  THE    I25TH    REGIMENT    I.  V.    I. 

yards  of  the  right  of  my  regiment,  and  the  left  wing  of  the  22nd 
Ind.  on  my  right  was  beginning  to  give  way.  My  position  was  fast 
becoming  untenable,  besides  I  was  apprehensive  that  the  confusion 
incident  to  a  repulse  on  the  right  of  the  brigade,  might  result  to  the 
enemy's  advantage,  in  making  many  captures,  and  I  determined  at 
once  to  defeat,  as  far  as  possible,  this  object,  and  at  the  same  time 
better  my  own  situation,  to  do  which  I  immediately  executed  a 
change  of  front  to  the  rear,  on  left  company,  and  then  presented  a 
front  direct  to  that  of  the  enemy.  This  movement  was  not  execu- 
ted by  the  entire  regiment  at  once,  nor  after  the  approved  system  of 
batallion  drill,  but  by  detaching  two  companies  at  a  time  from  the 
right  and  placing  them  on  the  new  alignment.  .  In  this  way  I  kept 
most  of  my  line  continually  firing  upon  the  advancing  column.  This 
change,  which  gave  me  the  advantage  of  a  direct  fire,  induced  the 
enemy  to  move  by  its  left  flank  and  deploy  his  four  depth  column  to 
a  double  line  formation,  which  movement  again  threatened  my  right. 
On  noticing  this  I  again  changed  front  to  the  rear  as  before.  Find- 
ing myself  nearly  surrounded  and  with  no  prospect  of  support,  I  di- 
rected my  regiment  to  retire  firing,  which  was  bravely  done  as  it  had 
maintained  every  position  in  which  it  had  been  placed.  My  left, 
which  had  not  up  to  this  time  moved  ten  feet  from  its  original  po- 
sition on  the  Goldsboro  road,  was  the  last  to  withdraw,  nor  was  this 
done  until  the  first  line  of  the  enemy  was  within  fifty  yards  of  my 
two  left  companies,  when  they  deployed  as  skirmishers  and  fell  back 
firing.  I  have  no  wish  to  make  a  bright  picture  for  my  regiment 
beyond  what  the  facts  will  justify.  I  have  commanded  it  under  very 
critical  circumstances  on  former  occasions.  I  have  witnessed  the 
conduct  of  many  regiments  in  perilous  situations,  but  I  never  saw  a 
body  of  troops  act  with  greater  coolness,  or  more  heroic  daring, 
than  the  i25th  Ills,  manifested  on  the  eventful  igth  instant.  When 
the  enemy's  firing  was  hottest,  my  men  were  most  earnest.  Not  one 
man  left  the  ground  until  ordered  to  do  so.  Every  man  seemed  to 
appreciate  that  the  efforts  of  the  regiment  were  being  bent  towards 
the  safety  of  the  brigade,  and  every  man  was  determined  to  do  all 
in  his  power  for  that  object.  Far  be  it  from  me  to  claim  a  higher 
quality  of  bravery  for  my  men  than  belongs  to  other  troops  of  the 
brigade.  If  I  were  even  disposed  to  be  jealous  of  the  prowess  of  my 
own  command,  I  could  say  nothing  to  disparage  the  claims  of  other 
regiments  to  equal  bravery  with  my  own.  They  were  suddenly  at- 
tacked without  warning,  and  in  a  position  where  their  flank  was  too 
boldly  exposed,  not  to  tempt  the  utmost  efforts  of  the  enemy  to  fall 
vigorously  upon  it.  Once  started  they  were  easily  pressed  back. 
Being  made  aware  of  the  situation  on  the  right,  I  prepared  my  com- 
mand for  any  emergency.  While  all  the  officers  and  men  of  my 
command  did  nobly,  yet  I  cannot  forbear  to  call  special  attention  to 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I.  l8l 

the  conspicuous  bravery  of  Captain  Geo.  W.  Cook,  acting  field  offi- 
cer, and  adjutant  Wm.  Mann,  for  their  eminent  services  in  preserv- 
ing at  all  times  a  good  alignment  and  directing  the  fire  of  different 
parts  of  the  line.  I  also  commend  to  your  notice,  W.  Blackeney, 
sergeant  major ;  George  W.  B.  Sadorus,  of  company  E;  Barton 
Snyder,  sergeant  of  company  I,  and  Louis  Taft,  corporal  of  com- 
pany E,  whose  cool  bravery  and  noble  daring,  won  for  them  the  ad- 
miration of  all  who  saw  them.  When  my  regiment  withdrew  as  far 
as  the  open  field  to  the  rear,  I  observed  that  Captain  Snodgrass, 
commanding  the  22nd  Ind.,  had  formed  the  basis  of  a  new  align- 
ment, about  three  hundred  yards  to  the  rear  and  left  of  the  first  po- 
sition. I  determined  at  once  to  form  my  regiment  on  his  left,  and 
directed  the  colors  to  be  placed  on  that  prolongation,  and  formed 
line  accordingly.  While  this  was  being  done,  you  reported  to  me 
that  General  Fearing  was  wounded  and  disabled  for  further  com- 
mand. I  immediately  turned  the  command  of  my  regiment  over  to 
Captain  Cook,  and  by  virtue  of  seniority  in  rank,  assumed  com- 
mand of  the  brigade. 

The  subsequent  operations  of  the  regiment,  will  be  reported  by 
Captain  Cook. 

I  am,  Captain,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant. 
(Signed)       Jas.  W.  Langley, 
Lt,  Col.  1 25th  Regt.  I.  V.  I. 

To- Charles  Swift,  Capt.  and  A  "A.  A.  G., 

3rd  Brigade,  2nd  Division,  i4th  A.  C. 


BENTONVILLE  TO  GOLDSBORO. 

Headquarters  i25th  Illinois  Infantry. 

Goldsboro,  N.  C.,  March  30th,  1865. 

CAPTAIN  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  to  you  a  report  of  the  op- 
erations of  this  command  from  the  igth  inst.  up  to  the  time  of  its 
reaching  this  place.  Owing  to  the  casualties  in  the  3rd  brigade, 
2nd  division  on  the  igth,  I  was  ordered  to  take  command  of  this 
regiment  at  about  3  o'clock  p.  m.,  just  as  the  regiment  had  been 
withdrawn  from  a  position  parallel  with  the  Goldsboro  road.  Col. 
James  W.  Langley  had  reformed  the  regiment  in  the  open  field  on 
the  left  of  the  22nd  Indiana;  here  I  took  command  and  had  every 
man  get  a  load  of  rails,  and  then  moved  the  regiment  forward  to 
the  edge  of  the  timber,  where  we  built  temporary  works  ;  the  22nd 


182  THE  I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I. 

Indiana  joined  on  our  right,  and  a  portion  of  the  2oth  A.  C.  on  the 
left.  We  scarcely  had  time  to  get  our  temporary  works  completed, 
when  the  enemy  advanced,  as  we  supposed  in  two  lines  of  battle. 
But  they  were  handsomely  repulsed.  I  never  saw  men  and  officers 
fight  with  more  determination  to  win,  than  at  this  time.  Here  our 
loss  was  one  man  killed  and  one  wounded.  We  then  sent  out 
skirmishers  in  our  front  and  remained  over  night.  At  8  a.  m.  on 
the  morning  of  the  zoth  we  were  moved  to  the  right,  in  rear  of  the 
ist  brigade,  in  works  the  regiment  had  built  on  the  igth.  Here  we 
were  ordered  to  send  20  men  and  two  non-commissioned  officers  to 
bury  the  dead.  They  buried  27  rebels,  including  two  officers,  and 
carried  two  wounded  off  the  field.  At  8  p.  m.  my  regiment  was 
moved  on  the  front  line  on  the  left  of  the  and  brigade,  the  86th  Il- 
linois on  my  left.  Here  we  formed  temporary  works.  We  picketed 
our  immediate  front,  built  skirmish  pits,  and  strengthened  our  works. 
Twenty-first — nothing  of  importance  transpired  to  day  but  picket 
firing.  I  had  one  man  wounded.  On  the  morning  of  the  22nd, 
we  found  the  enemy  had  gone.  We  marched  8  miles  in  direction 
of  Goldsboro  and  camped  for  the  night.  Twenty-third — marched 
at  8  a.  m.  ;  arrived  at  this  place,  after  marching  13  miles,  at  7  p.  m. 
Since,  we  have  been  resting  from  our  labors.  With  this  I  forward  a 
report  of  the  casualties  in  the  command  during  the  campaign  up  to 
the  23rd  inst. 

I  am  Captain  Very  Respectfully, 
Your  Obediant  Servant, 

(Signed.)  Geo.  W.  Cook, 

Captain  Commanding  Regiment. 

List  of  casualties  in  the   i25th   Illinois  infantry  during  the  late 
campaign  commencing  January  2oth  and  ending  March  23rd,  1865  : 
March  iQth.  '65,  commissioned  officer  wounded,  i. 
March  igth,  enlisted  men  killed,  2  ;  wounded,  n  ;  missing,  6. 
Respectfully  submitted, 

(Signed.)  Geo.  W.  Cook, 

Captain  Commanding  Regiment. 
Goldsboro,  N.  C.,  March  3oth,  1865. 


Roster  of  the  1 2,5th  I.  V.  I 


Name  ii  nd  Bank. 

Residence. 

Date  of  Rank 

Date  of  muster 

Remark?. 

Colonels. 
Ot-car  F.  Harmon  

Danville  

Sept.  4,  1862... 

Sept.  4,  1862... 

billed  in  battle  June  27,  '64. 

James  \V.  Lantjlcy  

Champaign... 

May  10,  1865.. 

Not  mustered.. 

Mustered  out  (MS  Lieut.  Col.) 

Lieut.  Colonel. 

June  9,  1865. 

James  W.  Langley  

Champaign... 

Sept.  4,  1862  .. 

Sept.  4,  1862... 

Promoted  

Major. 

John  B.  Lee  

Catlin  

Sept.  4,  1862... 

Sept.  4,1862.... 

Mustered  out  June  9.  1865... 

A'tjiitiiiil. 

William  Maun  

Danv  lie  

Sept.  4,  1862... 

Sept.  4,  1862... 

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865... 

Quartermaster  . 

Alei.  M.  Ayres  

Surgeon*, 

Urbana  

Aug  29,  1862. 

Aug.  29,  1862... 

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865... 

John   J.  McElroy  

Catlin   

Dec.  24,  1862.. 

designed  April  14,  1864  

Chas   H   Mills  

Champaign... 

April  14,  1864 

June  29,  1864  . 

Mustered  out  June  9  1865... 

1st  Asst.  Surgeons. 

Chan.  H    Mills  

Champaign  ... 

Sept.  4,1862... 

Sept.  4,  1862.... 

Promoted  

Owen  Wright  

Mason  

Aug.  21,  1864. 

Aug.  21,  1864... 

Resigned  April  8,  1865  

2nd  Asst.  Stlrgeoni. 

De  Witt  C.  Hentou  

Myersville  

March  1,1  863 

Not  mustered.. 

tfever  joined  regiment  

Joel  F.  Krving  

Kewauee  

May  14,  1863.. 

May  18,  1863... 

Resigned  February  3,  1864... 

Chaplaias. 

Levi  W.  Handera  

Vermilion  co 

Sept.  4,  1862  .. 

Sept.  4,  1862.... 

Killed  at    Cnldwells  Ford, 

Tenn.,  Nov.  17,  1863. 

April  25,  1864 

July  17,  1864... 

Died  October  13,  1864  

<  \iptniiis  Co.  A. 

Clark  Kalston  

Danville  

Sept.  4,  1862... 

Sept  3,  186?.... 

Resigned  January  17,  1863... 

JackBoe  Charles  

l>anville  

Jan.  17,  1863.. 

March  SO,  1863 

Killed  in  action  Sept.  1,  '64.. 

Jas.  P-  Brown  

Danville  

Sept.  1,  1864... 

May  2,  1865.... 

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865... 

First   Lieutenants. 

Chas.  Jackson  

Danville  

Sept.  4,  1862  .. 

Sept.  3,  1862.... 

Promoted  

Harrison  Low  

Danville  

Jan.  17,  1863.. 

Mar  30,  1363... 

Mustered  out  June  9,  18C6... 

Second    Lieutenants. 

Harrison  Low  

Danville  ...... 

Sept.  4,  1862... 

Sept.  3,  1862  ... 

Promoted  

James  P  Brown  

Danville  

Jan.  17,  1863.. 

Mar.  30,  1863... 

Promoted  

Captains  Co.  B. 

Rout.  Stewart  

Newell  

Sept  4.  1862... 

Sept.  3.  1862... 

Resigned  December  18,  '62... 

Stephen  D.  Connover... 

Ross  

Dec.  18,  1862.. 

Keb.  1,  1863  

Honoiahly  discharged  May 

First  Lieutenants 

15,  1865. 

Win.  R.  Wilson  

Newell  

Sept.  4,  1862  .. 

Sept.  3,  1862  ... 

Resigned  September  10,  '64.. 

Beuj  F.  Bonedrake  

Newell  

Sept.  10,  1864. 

Jan  17,1865... 

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865... 

tecond  Lieutenants. 

Stephen  D.  Connover... 

Ros*  

Sept.  4,  1862... 

Sept.  3,  1862.... 

Promoted  

Jas.  A.  McLean  

Newell  

D«-c.  18,  1862. 

Fel..  1,  1863  ... 

Killed  in  action  June  27,  '64 

Captains  Co.  C 

William  W    fellows  

Danville  

Sept  4,  1862... 

Sept.  3,  1862.... 

Killed  in  action  June  27,  64. 

Andrew  W.  Ingraham.. 

Danville  

June  27,1804. 

Sept.  9,  1864.... 

Died  February  15,  1865  

First  Lieutenants. 

Alexander  Pollock  

Danville  

Sept.  4,1862.. 

-ept  3  1862  

Resigned  December  24,  1863 

Andrew  W.  [ngraham 

Danville    ... 

Dec.  24,  1S62.. 

Fob.  22,  1864... 

Promoted  

David  M.  Hays  

Vance  

June  27,  1864 

Sept.  9,  1864  

Mustered  out  June  9,1865... 

Second  Lieutenants. 

James  D.  New  

Vance  

Sept.  4,  1862... 

Sept.  3,  1862.... 

Resigned  January  2,  1864.... 

Captains  Co.  D. 

Geo.  W.  Galloway  

Georgetown.. 

Sept.  4,  1862.. 

Sept.  3,1862  ... 

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865... 

First  Lieutenants. 

James  B.  Stevens  

Vermilion  co 

Sept.  4,  1^62.. 

Sept  3.  1862.... 

Resigned  September  6.  1863. 

Oliver  Finley  

Georgetown.. 

July  19,  1864. 

Sept.  5,  1864.... 

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  .. 

1 84 


THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I. 


Name  and  Rank. 

Residence. 

Date  of  Rank 

Date  of  muster 

Remarks. 

Second  Lieutenants. 

m 

John  L  Jones    .   .  .... 

Vermilion  co. 

Sept.  4,  1862.. 

Sept.  3,  1862.... 

Killed  in  action  July  19  '64 

Captains  Co.  E. 

Nathan  M.  Claak  

Champaign.... 

Sept.  4,  1862.. 

Sept.  3,  1862  ... 

Honorably  discharged  Jan- 

uary 13,  1865. 

G.  W.  R.  Sadorus  

.^alorus  

April  2d,  1865 

May  20,1865... 

.flustered  out  June  9,  1865... 

First  Lieutenants. 

Champaign... 

Sept.  4,  1862.. 

Sept.  3,  1862... 

Kfsigoed  February  8.  1864... 

Champaign... 

Feb.  8,  1861... 

Promoted  Adjutant  61)th  Reg 

Second    Lieutenants. 

Mustered  out  June  26,  '65. 

John  Urquhart    ........ 

Sudorus  

Sept.  3,  1862  .. 

Sept.  3.  1862... 

Resigned  January  20.  1863... 

Martin  V.  St.ni'-  

Cbampuigu... 

Mar.  30,  1863. 

Mar.  30,  1  63... 

Resigned  June  22,  1863  

Champaign... 

June  22,  1863. 

July  13,1863... 

Promoted  

Captains  (Jo.  F. 

Fredrick  B  Sale  

Newcomb  

Sept  3,  1862... 

Sept.  3,  1862... 

Resigned  January  24,  1863... 

John  B.  Lester  

Newcomb  

Mar.  30,  1863 

Mar.  30,  1863.. 

Mustered  out  June  9,  18C5... 

^First   Lieutenants. 

John  B.  Lester  

Newcomb  ... 

Sept.  4,  1862. 

Sept.  3,  1862... 

Promoted  

Wm.  B.  Shoup  

Newcomb  

Jan.  24  1863. 

Mar.  3o,  1863... 

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865... 

Second  Lieutenants. 

Alfred  Johnson....  ....... 

East  Bend  

Sept.  4,  1862.. 

Sept.  3,  1862... 

Resigned  January  11  1863... 

Wm.  K.  Shonp  

Newcomb  

Ian.  11,1863.. 

Feb.  1,  1863  

Promoted  

John  J.  White  

NewcomU  

Jan.  24,  1863.. 

Mar.  3o,  1863.. 

Killed  in  action  mar  Atlan- 

Captains Co.  O. 

ta,  Georgia,  Aug.  7,  1864. 

John  11.  Gass  

Catlin  ... 

Si-pt    4,  1862.. 

Sept.  3,  1862  ... 

Resigned  December  30,  1862 

Joaiah  Lee  

Fairmoun  t.... 

Dec.  30.  1862. 

Jan  31,1863... 

Resigned  February  7,  1804... 

Marion  Lee  

Fair  moil  tit.... 

Feb.  7,  1864... 

Mar.  23,  1864... 

Killed  in  action  June  27,  '64 

Newton  Norris  

Danville  

June  27,  1864 

Sept.  5,  1864... 

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865... 

first  Lievtenants. 

Ephriam  8.  Howell  

Catlin   

Sept.  4,  1862.. 

Sept.  3,  1862... 

Resigned  January  22,  1863... 

Marion  Lee  

Fairmonnt.... 

Jan.  22,  1863.. 

July  28,  1863... 

Promoted  

Elisba  Littler  

Catliu  

Feb.  7,1864... 

Mar.  26,  1865. 

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865... 

Second  Lieutenants  . 

Josiah  Leo  

Fairmount.... 

Sept.  4,  1862.. 

Sept.  3.  1862.... 

Promoted  Captain  

Mariun  Lee  

Fairuidiint  ... 

Dec.  30,  1862.. 

Jan.  31,  1863... 

Promoted  

Newton  Norris  

Daurille  

Jan.  22,  1863.. 

Promoted  Captain  

Captains  Co.  H. 

Pleasant  M.  Parks  

Urbana  

Sept  4,  1862... 

Sept.  3,  1862... 

Resigned  April  16,  1S64  

Champaign  ... 

April  16,  1864 

Nov.  1,  1864.... 

Mustered  out  June  9  1865... 

First  Lieutenants. 

David  \.  Brenton   

Middletown... 

Sept.  4,  1862.. 

Sepi.  3,  1862... 

Resigued  January  1,  1863.... 

John  C.  Harbor  

Champaign  ... 

Jan.  1,  1863... 

Feb  8,1863  

Promoted  

Saml.  M.  Dunseth  

Dr  liana  

April  16,  1864 

Nov.  2,  1864  ... 

Mustend  out  June  9,  1865... 

Second  Lieutenants. 

John  (!.  Harbor.  

I'hampaign  ... 

Sept.  4,  1862. 

•^ept  3,  1862.... 

Promoted  

Saml.  M.  I'miseth  

Urbaua  

Jan.  1,  1863... 

Feb,  8,  1863  

Promoted  

Captains  Co.  I. 

Levin  Vinson  

Pilot  

Sept.  4,  1862.. 

Sei't.  3.  1862.... 

Resigned  February  29,  1864. 

Edwd.  B.  Kingsburv... 



Feb.  29.  1864. 

Mar.  23  1864.. 

Died  of  wounds  Auc.  18.  '64 

James  H.  Trimmel  

Pilot  

Aug.  18,  1864 

April  9,  1865... 

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865... 

First  Lieutenants. 

John  K.  Vinson  

Pilot  

Sept.  4,  1862  .. 

Sept  3.  1862... 

Resigned  November  21,  '62  .. 

Edwd.  B.  Kiniisbury... 



Nov.  25,  1862. 

Dec.  16.1862... 

Promoted  

James  H.  Trimmel  

Pilot  

Feb.  29,  1864. 

April  C,  1865... 

Promoted  

Geo.  A.  Clapp  

Pilot  

Aug.  18.  1864. 

Nov.  2  1864.... 

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865... 

Second  Lieutenants. 

Stephen  Brothtns  

Pilot  

Sept.  4,  1S62. 

Sept.  3,  1862.... 

Resigned  March  27,  1863  

James  H.  Trimmel  

Pilot  

March  27,  '63 

April  20,  1863. 

Promoted  

Captains  Co.  K. 

Geo.  W.  Cook  

Catlin  

Sept.  4,  1862. 

Sept.  3,  1862... 

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865... 

First  Lieutenant. 

Oliver  P.  Hunt  

Dallas..  

Sept.  4,  1862. 

Sept.  3,  1862... 

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865... 

Second    Lieutenants. 

Joseph  F.  Croi-by  

Crttlin  

Sept.  4,  1862. 

Sept.  3,  1862... 

Resigned  June  22  1863  

William  B.  Galway  

Dallas.  

June  22,  18R3 

Resigned  October  15,  1864... 

One   Hundred  and  Twenty-Fifth    Ills.   Vols.    Reg't. 
THREE  YEARS'  SERVICE. 


NON-COMMISSIONED   STAFF, 

Name  and  Rank. 

Residence. 

Date  of 
enlistment. 

Date  of 
muster. 

Remarks. 

Sergeant  Majors. 
Edward  B.  Kingsbury. 
George  fcroggs  
Kenj.  F.  Uonebrake  
Thomas  W.  Blakeney.. 
Q.  M.  Seigeant. 
David   B.  Beasley  
Commiswry  Sergeants. 
Harvey  J.  Steward  

Danville  
Champaign... 
Vermilioii  co. 
Catliu  

Champaign.... 
Vermilion  co 
Champaign... 

Newcomb  
Catlin   
Danville  

Vance  
Pilot  

1862. 
July  16  
Aug.8  
Aug.  10  
Aug.   13  

Aug.  14  

Aug.8  

Aug.  7  
Aug.  It  
Aug.   14  

July  20  
AUK.  12  

1862. 
September  3 
"         3 
"         3 
"         3 

September  3 
September  3 
September  3 
September  3 

It                    O 

"          3 
September  3 

Promoted  1st  Lieut.  Co.  I  

Promoted  2d  Lieut  Co  E 

Promoted  1st  Liont   Co.  B  
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

Mustered  out  July    29,   1865; 
was  prisoner. 
Beducedathisown  request,  and 
assigned  to  Co.  K. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

Discharged  June  18  18(53  

Hospital  Stewards. 
Benjamin  F.  Fagan  
Abram  A.  Sulct-r  
Edwin  J.  Draper  
Principal  Musicians. 
William  A.  Payton  
Curtis  H.  Tanzey  

Pro.  Ass't  Surgeon  llth  111.  Inf. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

Mustered  out  Juno  9,  1865  

ENLISTED    MEN    OF    COMPANY    "  A." 

Name  and  Kank. 

Residence 

Date  of 
enlistment. 

Date  of 
muster. 

Remarks. 

First  Sergeant. 
James  P.  Brown  
Sergeants. 
Sylvester  Hooteu  
William  A   Myers  

Danville  
Danville  

1862. 
Ang    t3  

July  18  
July  25  
July  '25  

Aug.  10  
July    25  

July    25  
July    25  

July    25  
Aug.  10  
Aug.   10  
July  25  
July  25  

1862. 
Sept.  3  

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  

Sept.  3  
"ept.3  

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.3  
Sept.4  

Promoted  2nd  Lieutenant  

Mustered  out  June  9  1865  
"        aslstSg't 
Dihcharged  May  6,  '63,  as  pri- 
vate ;  on  account  disability... 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

Mustered  out  June  9,   '65,  as 
private.  Absent  on  furlough. 
Trans,  to  Inv.  Corps.  
Mustered   out    June    9,    1865. 
Furlough. 
Died,  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Dec. 
6,  '62. 
Killed  at  Kenesaw   Mt.,  June 
27,  '64. 
Mustered   out  June  9,   '65,   as 
private. 
51.  O.  July  1,  '65,  as  private; 
was  prisoner. 
Died  at  Danville  Ky  

Spencer  Shumate  

John  Brody  

Corporals  . 
William  D.  Huffman... 

Danville  
Danville  

Bluford  8.  Graved  
John  Cellihen  

William  F.  Henthoro.. 
Jacob  Grimes  
John  H   Martin  

24 

1 86 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I. 


Name  and  Bank. 

Residence. 

Date  of 
enlistment. 

Date  of 
Muster. 

Remarks. 

Muiiciaru. 
Nathaniel  Clyne  

Danrille  

1862 
July  25  

July  25  

July  18  
July  18  
July  18  

July  18........ 
Aug.  12  

Aug.  12  
July  25  
July  26  
July  25  
Aug.  1  

Aug.  13  
July  25  ..... 
July  28  
Aug.  13  
July  25  

July  25  
July  25  

July  25  
July  25  
July  25  

July  25  
July  25  
July  25  
July  26  
July  25  
July  25  
July  25  
July  26  
July  26  

Aug.  15  
Aug.  15  
Ang.  15  
Aug.  15  
July  24  
July  18  
July  25  
July  25  
July  25  

Aug.  2  
Aug.  10  

July  25    

Aug.  10  ...... 
July  25  
July  25  
July  25  
July  17  
July  25  
July  25  
July  25  
July  25  

1862 
Sept.  3  

Sept.  3   

Sept.  3    
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   

Sept.3  
Sept.  3   

Sept   3    
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3    
Sept.  3    

Sept.  3    
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3    
Sept.  3   

Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   

Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   

Sept.  3   
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3    
«ept.  3   
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   

Sept.  3   
Sept   3    
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept,  3   

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  

Sept.  3   

Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept,  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3    
Sept   3   
Sept.  3   

Died  at   Gallatin,  Tenn  ,  Jan. 
24,  1863. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Disch.  Feb.  10,  '63  ;  disability... 
Died  at  Nashville,,  Tenn.,  NOT. 
3D,  '62. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  18Si  
Killed   at   Kenesaw    Mt.,  June 
27,  18C4. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Di«ch.  March  8,  '64  ;  disability  . 
Disch.  March  21.  '63;  disability 
Died  at  Quincy,  III.,  Jan.  9,  '64. 
Missing  at  Kenesaw    Mt.,  Ga., 
since  June  27,  1864. 
Trans,  to  Inv.  Corps  Sept.  14,'63 
Mustered  out  June  9  1865  
Disch.  Feb.  15.  '61;  disability... 
Disch.  Jan.  6,  '63  ;  .liability.... 
Mustered   out  June,  9,   '65,  as 
Sergeant. 
Di>ch  Feb.  3,1863;  disability... 
Mustered  out    June,    9,    1865. 
Furlough. 
Mustered  out  July  1,  1865  ;  was 
prisoner. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865,  as 
Corporal. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865, 

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

Disch.  Feb.  13,  '63;  disability". 
Disch.  March  11,  '63;  disability 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Disch.  Jan.  14,  '63;  disability... 
Died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Sept. 
9,  '64  ;  wounds. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

Trans,  to  V  R.  C.,  July  29.  ''64.1 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Disch.  March  11,  '63;  disability 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Corporal    killed    at    Kenesaw, 
June  27,  '64. 
Mustered  out  May  18.  1865  
Died  in    Andersonville  prison, 
Oct.  1,  '64.  No.  of  grave.10,179 
Mustered  out  June   9,   '65,  as 
Sergeant. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  '65  

Disch.  Jan.  13,  '63;  disability... 
Mustered  out  June  9,  '65  

"                      "  Furlough 

Isaiah  Oummings  ... 
Private!. 

Barnhart,  Jonathan... 
Bryant,  Robert  S  

Beck    Ferry  

«    '::::: 

Bonnet,  John  
Callihan.  Sanford  V  

Clingin,  Nathan  

"    

Clymon,   Hyraio  

Cook,  Alonzo  H  
Cole  George  8  

-    ".".". 

Douglas,  Thomas  S...... 
Draper,  James  8  

Fugit,  John  M  

Finley,  James  

"    

•I 

Gillelan,  Wllford  H  
Gouge,  Kavanaugh  W. 
Guthrie  Michael 

»   :..:: 

Highotte,  George  L  
Henderson,  Obediah.... 

::   :::::: 

Hathway,  George  

Hill,  James  W  
Hooten,  Charles  B  
Hensley,  James  F  

Jordan,  Dudley  

Knight,  Johnson  F  

Layton,  Andrew  J  
Lafferty,  Patrick  

Lafferty,  William  H.... 
Lope,  Jesse  

Ludlngton,  John  G.  W. 

Low,  Hollingsworth.... 
Mann,  Sylvester  B  
Milliner  Gerard  

Morman,  Charles  C  

Meadows,  Willi.m  

;':  :::::: 

McFarland,  James  H... 
Morgan,  Alford  C  

THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 


i87 


Name  and  Bank. 

Residence. 

Date  of 
enlistment. 

Date  of 
muster. 

Bemarks. 

Privates. 
McGregor,  Gregor  

Danville  

1862. 
July  25  

1x62. 
Sept.  3   ... 

Mustered  out  June  9,  '65  

July  25 

Sept   3 

Olchy,  William  J  
Olehy,  George  W  
Phillips  Johu  



July  17  
Aug.  17  
July  17 

Sept.  3    
Sept.  3   
Sept    3 

"                      "as  Corp'l 
Disch.  June  Id,  '63  ;  disability.. 
Disch.  Jan   17  63  •  disability 

Quillen,  James  W  

ii 

Aug  12  

Sept.  3     ... 

Deserted  Oct.  3,  1862  

ii 

July  17 

Sept    3 

Dtserted  May  7,  1864  

ii 

July  17  ...  . 

Lisch  Feb.  2»,  1863  ;  disability 

Shunmte,  William  

M        

July  25  
July  25 

Sept.  3   
Sept   3 

Disch.  Feb.  5,  '63;  disability.... 

Smith,  William  I!  

(j        

Aug.  12  
July  20 

Sept.  3    
Sept   3 

Mustered  out  June  9,  '65  
Disch   Feb  10  '63-  disability 

„ 

July  25 

Sept    3 

Wilson.  David  D  

«        

Aug.  15  
Aug  14  

Sept.  3   
Sept   3      .  . 

Corporal. 
Disch.  March  7,  '63  ;  disability 
Mustered  out  Juno  9   '65  

Wilson,  William  F  
Wooley.  George  C  
Beci  uiUi. 
Butt,  Nathaniel  

<"•    :::::: 

Aug.  12  
Aug.  10  

Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   

Discli.  Feb.  10,  '63;  disability... 
Mustered    out    June    9,    1865. 
Furlough 
Deserted  June,  1863. 

Died  Chattanooga  Nov  14  '  64 

Mar  30  1863 

Mar  3u  1S63 

Killed  at  Kenesaw  June  27  '64 

Pruett,  Willis  

Danville  

Trans,  to  V.  R.  C.,  July  89,  '64.. 

ENLISTED    MEN    OF    COMPANY    "  B. 


Name  and  Rank. 

Residence. 

Date  of 
enlistment 

Date  of 
muster. 

Remarks. 

Sergeants. 
John  W.  McKibben  

1  Joss  

1862 
Aug.  10  

1862 
Sept    3 

Discharged  Oct   23,  1862  

John  R.  Lock  hurt..  .... 

Aug.  10  

Sept.  3  

Discharged  Jan,  20,  1863  

Middle  Fork  . 

Aug  10 

Sept.   3 

Mustered  out  June  9,  '65,  Pvt... 

James  A.  McLeau  

Newell*..  ....... 

f  U£         1U.  ...... 

Aug.  10  

Sept.  3 

Promoted  2d  Lieutenant  

Corporals 

Ransom  McLean  

N'ewell  

Aug.  10  

Sept.  3  

Mustered  out  June  9,'65,as  Pvt. 

Henry  D   Parks  

*i 

Aug.  10  

Sept.   3 

Died  at  Gallatin,  T.,  Feb.  6,'63. 

JamoM  Duncan  

"       ".'..... 

Aug.  10  

Sept.   3  

Discharged  June  16,1863  

Charles  S.  Carter  

"      

Aug.  10  

Sept.   3  

Discharged  Jab.  23,  1863  

Thomas  J   Price  ......... 

it 

Aug.  10  

Sept.    3 

Discharged  June  7,  1863  

George  A.  Collins  

Ross  

Aug   10  

Sept.  3   

Disch   Feb.  17,  '63,  as  Sergeant 

Geo.  W.  Cunningham. 

ttoss  

Aug.  10  

Sept.  o  

Disch.  Dec.  10,'64,  as  Sergeant  ; 

wounded.    - 

Jarret  W.  Cunningham 

Grant  

Aug.  10  

Sept.   3  

Died  at  Nashville,  Tenn  ,  April 

Privatet. 

26,  1883. 

Adams,  Robert  

Newell  

Aug.  10  

Sept.  3  

Died  of  wounds  at  Atlanta,  Ga., 

June  11,'64,  iu  enemy's  hands 

Bean,  Levi  

Ross  

Aug.  10  

Sept    3  

Mustered  out  June  9,  '65,  ae  1st 

Sergeant. 

Eell,  Elijah  R  

Newell  

Aug.  10  

Sept    3  

Discharged  Nov.  22,  1862  

Biehler,  James  E  

"      

Aug.  10  

Sept.  3  

Die1  at   Bowling  Green,   Ky., 

Dec.  15,  '62. 

Biddle,  Ephraim  W  

"      

Aug.  10  

Sept.   3  

Mustered  out  June  9,  '65.*.  

Bigham,  Martin  L  

Jordan  

Aug.  10  

Sept.   3  

Discharged  March  20,  1863  

Bonebrake,  Benj.  F  

Newell  

Aug.  10  

Sept.   3  

Promoted  Sergeant  Major  

Brewer,  William  

"       

Aug.  1(1  

Sept.  3  

Discharged  Feb.  12,1863  

Browti   Henry  

"      

Aug.  10  

Sept.   3  

Discharged  Jan.  21,  1863  

Brown   John  

Ross  

Aug,  10  

Sept.   3  

Discharsed  Oct.  23,  1862  

Carter    Isaac  

Newell  

Aug.  10  

Sept.   3  

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

Carter  Marion  

'•      

Aug.  Id  

Sept    3  

Deserted  Oct.  15,  1862  

Carter    Zachariab  

"      

Aug.  10  

Sept.   3  

Mustered  out  June  9.  1865,  as 

Sergeant. 

Chandler,  William  F  .. 

"      

Aug    10  

Sept.   3  

Died   at  Richmond,  Va.,  from 

inhuman  treatment  in  prison 

Cox,  John  W  

'•      

Aug.  10  

Sept.  3  

Died  nt  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Nov. 

i 

18,  '62. 

:88 


THE    I25TH    REGIMENT    I.   V.    I. 


Name  and  Rank. 

Residence. 

Date  of 
enlistment. 

Date  of 
muster. 

Remarks 

Privates. 
Cox,  Joseph  M  

Edwards,  Jacob  H  
Klwell,  Alexander  

Newell  
Ross  

1x62. 
Aug.  10  

Aug.  10  
Ang.  lo  
Aug.  10  
Aug.  10  

Aug.  10  

1862. 
Sept.  3  

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  

*ept.  3.  
Sept    3  

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  

Trans,  to  V.  R.  C.,  May  3.  1865. 
Bliintered  out  Aug.  22,  '65,  :i» 
Corporal. 

Discharged  Oct   23  1862  

Died    at  Louisville,  Ky,   Dec. 
5,  1862. 
Miibtered  out  June  9,  1865  
Died  of  wounds  rec'd  at   Big 
Shanty,  Ua.,  Juue  30,  1864. 

Gillan,  Joshua  C  

Grider,  Albert  
Gntches,  James  H  
Hamlin,  David  B  
Helmick,  Benjamin  
Keith.  William  
Ke'ley  Patrick  

Middle  Fork.. 

Newell  
Ross  

Blunt  
Ross  

Aug.  10  

Aug.  10  
Aug.  10  
Ar.g.  10  
Aug.  10  
Aug.  10  
Aug    10  
Aug.  10  
Ang.  10  
Aug.  in  
Aug.  10  
Ang.  10  
Aug.  10  
Aug.  10  

Aug.  10  

Aug.  10.  ... 
Aug.  10  
Aug.  10  
Aug.  10  
Aug.  10  
Aug    10  
Aug.  10  
Aug.  10  

Aug    10  
Aug.  10  
Ang.  10  
Aug.  10  

Aug    10  
Aug.  1C  
Aug.  in  
Aug.   10  
Aug.  10  
Aug.  10  
Aug.  10  

Aug.  10  
Aug.  Id  
Aug.  10  

Aug    10  
Aug    10  
Ang.  10  
Aug.  10  

Aug.  10  
Aug.  10  
Aug.  10  
Aug.  10  
Aug.  10  

Ang.  10  

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Di.-charged  May  24,  1865  
Killed,  Kenesaw,  Juue  27,  '64.. 
Died  lit  Nathville,  Jan.  1,  1864.. 
Discharged  Keb    3  1863  

Kimball,  William  H  
King,  William  tJ  
Lang,  George  W  
Leonard,  Philip  
Leonaul,  John  P  
Lewis,  Charles  A  
Lockhart,  Joseph  C  

Marsh,  Daniel  A  
Marshall  John  H  

lilunt.  
Ross  
Newell  
Blunt  
Newel)  
rarroll  
Sewell  

Rosa  

Ross  
Newell  

Grant  
Ross  
Ross  
Mound,  lud.. 

Newell  

Danville  
Grant  

Danville  
Grant  
Ross  
Newell  
Ross  
Ross  
Newell  

Edgar  Co  ! 
Blunt  

Newell  

Mustered  out  June  9  1865  

"         as  Corp'l. 
Must'd  out  July  l,'6o;  was  pris 
Mustered  out  Juue  9,  1865  

Diocharged  Dec  24  1862  

Sept    3  
Sept.  3  

Sept.  3  
•fept.  3  
*ept.  2  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  "3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.   3  ...... 

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  

Sept.   3  
iept.   3  
Sept.   3  

Sept.   3  
Sept.  3   
-ept.  3  
Sept.  3  

Sept.  3  
>'ept.  3    
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
S.  pt.  3  

;ept.  3  

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865.  as 
Corporal. 
Died    at  Bowling  Green,  Ky., 
Nov.  23,  '62. 

Moore,  James  R  
Morrison,  Dennis  
Norton.  Scott  
Peak.  Uriah  W  
Ritchie,  Samuel  A  
Ritchie,  James  

Rohrer  Ezra  P  

as  Corp'l. 

"        as  Serg't. 

Absent,  sick  at  M.  O.  of  Reg't.. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865,  as 
Sergeant. 

Rogers,  Robert  M  
Ross,  Hiram  W  
Ross,  Isaac  F  

Ross,  James  T  
Ross,  Nelson  E  
Sanburn,  Richard  J  

"                      "as  Serg't 
i  ischarged  Aug.  16,  1863  
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865,  as 
Corporal  

Trans,  to  V.  R.  C.,  Sept.  1,  '63.. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

it                      ii 

Smith,  Charles  W  
Smith.  Martin  V  
Starr,  John  B  

Starr,  Simon  
Steward,  Harvey  J  
Thral^f,  William  L  

Watkins,  Isiiah  
Weiford,  David  G  

,i                      ii 

Killed  at  Kenesaw  June  27.Y.4. 
1st  Serg't.    Died  at  home  Mar. 
2,  64. 
Discharged  Dec   26,  1862  
Promoted  Commissary  Serg't... 
Serg't.      Died    of    wounds  re- 
ceived    at    Jonesboro,    Ga., 
Sept  2,1864. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

Discharged  Dec.  26,  1862  
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865,  ao 
Cori  oral. 
Mustertd  out  June  9,  1865  

Deserted  Oct  2,  1862  
Died  Danville.  Ky.,  Nov.  2.  '62. 
Died  at  Bowling  Green,   Ky., 
Dec.  10,  '62. 
Discharged  Feb.  12,  1863  

Wiggins,  George  W.  ... 
Wiggins,  Jacob  W  

Wiggins,  James  P  
Wilson,  Amos  A  
Williams,  Abner  S  

ROrS  

Williamson,  Rignel  G. 
Willey,  Richard  

Yocum,  John  

Newell  
Grant  

Ross  

THE    I25TH    REGIMENT   I.    V.    I. 


189 


Name  and  Rank. 

Residence. 

Date  of 
enlistment 

Da'e  of 

muster. 

Remarks. 

Newell  

Aug.  Id,  '(i2. 

Sept.  3,  '62.. 

Killed  at  Kei  eeaw  June  27,  '64 

Young,  Leonard  
Young,  Isanc  
Recruits. 
Huddleson,  William  
Jones,  Johu  W  

Grunt  
Newell  

Uoss  
Vermiliou  Co 
Newell  

Aug.   10  
Aug.  10  

Dec.  1,  '63.... 

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  

Dec.  1,'03... 

Di-charged  Dec  20,  18B2  
Died  at  Gallatin,  Nov.  29,  Si... 

Disch.Oct.  24,  '64,  wounds  
Died  at  Nashville,  Dec.  17,  '62.. 
Mustered  out  June  9  1865  

Ross  

Nov.  23,  '63.. 

Nov.  23,  '63.. 

Trans,  to  Co.  B,  6dth  III.  Inf.... 

Sheets,  Franklin  

Ross  

Dec.  21,  '63... 

Pec.  21,  '63  . 

ENLISTED    MEN    OF    COMPANY    "  C. 


Najne  and  Rank. 

Residence 

Date  of 
enlistment. 

Date  of 
muster. 

Remarks. 

First  Sergeant. 
A.  W.  Ingraham  
Sergeantt. 
Jas.  H.McKee  

Josiah  H.  French  

Danville  

Vance  
Danville  
Vance  

Danville  
Roesville  
Danville  

Vance   
Danville  

Vance  
Pilot   
Vance   
Blouut  
Vance  

Danville  

Vance  

Danville  
Vance  
Pilot  
Vance   
Danville  
Ross  
Danvilie  
Vance   
Danville  

Vance   

1862. 
July   16  

July  16  
Ang    1  

July  22  
Jnly  22  

Aug.  1  
Aug.  1    
Aug.   10  

Aug.   3  
Aug.  3  
AUg.  11  
Aug.  14  
Aug.  14  , 

Aug.  3    
July  20  

Aug.   11  
Aug.  1  

1862. 
Sept.  3  

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
-iept.3  

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.4  

Sept.  3   
Sept,  3   

Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   

Promoted  1st  Lieutenant  

Private.    Disch.  Nov.  9,  '63,  for 
promotion  in  5lh  Ky.  cavalry 
1st  Serg't.     Killed  at  Kenesaw 
Mt  ,  June  27.  1864. 
Disch.  Oct.  23,  '62,  as  1st  Serg't. 
Promoted  1st  Lieutenant  

Mustered  out  May  15,'65,'as  pvt 
Hiscliarged  April  18,  1863  

David   M.  Hays  
Corporals. 
Henry  C.  Gardner  
Joseph  \V.  Sennit  
James  G.  Payton  

Thomas  J.Oox  
Augustus  H.  Keric  
James  Ellison  ,  
Wm.  E.  Maitin  
Julius  T.  Cnlbertson... 
Musicians. 
Charles  Last  

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865,  as 
1st  Serg't. 
Discharged  Jan.  18.  '63  
Died  at  Nashville  April  8,  '63... 
Disch  rged  Nov.  10,1862  
Discharged  May  2,  1863  
Discharged  May  5,  1863  

Mustered  out  June  9,  1805  
Promoted  Principal  Musician... 

Discharged  Jan.  16,  1863  

Died  April  2,  1865;  wounds  
Discharged  Jan.  10,  1863  
Corp.  Trans.  t<>  I.  0.  Sept.  1,'63 
Died  Sept.  26,  1864  ;  wounds  
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Died  at  home,  April  7,  1863  
Di  d  at  Hairodsbiirg.Ky.,  Nov. 
19,  '62. 
Discharged  March  3,  1863  
Absent,  sick,  at  muster-out  of 
Regiment 
Discharged  Oct  23  1862  

Wagoner. 
John  Devore  
Private*. 
Allman,  Lev!  
Bloomfield,  Satnl  

Aug  1  
Aug.  20  
July    22  
Aug.   14  
Aug.   21  
Aug.  21  

Aug.  9    
Aug.   14  

Aug.   11  
Aug.  15  
Aug.  13  
July  22  
Aug   14  
Aug  11  
Aug.  14  
July  22  
Aug.  11  
Aug.  21  
Aug.  3    
July  22  
July  22  

July  22    .. 

Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept   3   
Sept.  3    
Sept   3    
Sept.  3     

Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   

Sept.  3  
Sept   3   
Sept.  3    
Sept   3    
Sept.  3   
oept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3    
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3    
Sept.  3    
Sept.  3    

Sept.  3    ... 

Blevins,  Clark  M  

baker,  Isaac  S  

Barker.  Wm  M  
Cushman,  Jonathan  . 

Cruzan,  Benjamin  
Deakin.  Wm.  M  
Dickson,  Simon  A  
Deakiu,  John  
Dobbina.  Saml.  S  
Davis.  Geo.  W  
Draper,  Kdwin  J  
Fellows,  Henry  
Frownfelter,  A.  W  
Flaugherty,  Owen  
Grannshaw,  Abram.... 
Gray,  Matthew  
Gray,  David  •••• 

Grav.  William.... 

Discharged  July  24,  1863  
Died  at  Nashville  June  2.  '63... 
Absent,  sick,  at  M.  0.  of  Reg't. 
Disch.  Feb.  25,  '65  ;  wounds  
Disch.  Jan.  15,  1863  
Piomoted  Hospital  Steward  
Discharged  Jan.  18  1863  

Disch.  March  14.  '63,  as  Corp'l.. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  '65  
"           as  Cerp'l 
"               "           as  Serg't 
Corp.    Killed  at  Kenesaw  July 
1.  64. 
Killed  at  Kenesaw  June  27  ,  '64 

25 


190 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I. 


Name  and  Rack. 

Residence. 

Date  of 
enlistment 

Date  of 
Muster. 

Remarks. 

Private!. 
Gardner,  Wm.  B  
Hurt,  George  
Heller,  A.  J  
Hoover,  Albert  W  
Holycr..gs,  Wm  
Johnson.  Charles  
Kingsbury,  E.  B  
Kilpatrick,  Jas.  D  

)anville  
ranee   
Danville  
irant  
ljuiville  
Vance  
Danville  

Vance  

1862. 
A«g  U  
Aug.  20  
Aug.  1     
Aug.  It  
Aug.    1    
Nng.    6  
July  16  
Aug.  14  
Aug.  '»0  

July  22  
July  2ii  
Aug    9  
Aug.  15  
Aug.    1   

Aug.  20  
ing.  11  

Aug.  14  
Aug.  14  
Aug.  21  

Ann     1 

1862 
Sept.  3    
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3    
Sept   3    
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3    
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3    
Sept.  3    

Sept   3   
Sept.  3    
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.3  

*ept.  3   
Sept.  3  

Sept.  3   
Sept.  3  
Sept.   3  

Sept.  3  

Discharged  Jan.  20,  1863  
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Mustered  out  July  1.  1865  
Killed  at  Kenesaw  June  27,'64. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  '65  

Discharged  Jan.  28,  1863  
Promoted  Sergeant  Major  
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
"           Jnly   1,  1865,    as 
Serg't;  was  prisoner. 
Mustered  out  June  9.  1865  
"                   "      22  '65 

Lucas,  William  
Mapes,  Marcellus  

Jeserted  Dec.  4,  1863  
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
J.i!led,0aldwcll'8  Ford.onTenn. 
river,  ^ept.  29,  '62. 
M.  O.  Juno  9,  '65,  as  Corporal... 
A  t'.eserter  from  39th   Ind.  ar- 
rested  and  returned    to  his 
com.  Dec.  12,  '62. 
Must,  out  June  9,  '65,  as  Serg't 

McCoy,  Saml.  P  
Mead,  uharles  

McVoy,  John   
Masters,  Jas.  L   

Mathews.Thos.  A  
Mins,  Cbas.  K.  Jr   
Majors,  Samuel    

Danville  
.irant  

Danville  

Vance  
Blunt  

Discharged    Dec.    20,    '64,    as 
Serg't;  disability 
M  ust.  out  July  22,  '65  ;  was  pris 
Discharged  Nov.  2,  186  {  
Absent  sick  at  muster-out  Regt 
Discharged  Jan.  26.  18fi3  
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Killed  at  Keeesaw  Jnne  27,'64.. 
Discharged  Jan.  18   1863  

O'Tode.  Samuel  
Oliver,  Eobt.  W  
Perry,  Commodore  
Pricfcett,  Oliver  
Pfitzinger  Jacob  
Radcliff.  Felix  
Richards  B  K,  

Newell  

Ross  
Danville  

Vance  
Danville  

Vance  

Danville  
Pern  
Danville  

Grant  

Aug.  10  
Aug.  11  
Aug.  11  
Aug   14  
Aug.  12  
July  22  
Aug.  14  .... 

Aug.  11  
Aug.  11  
Aug.    9  
Aug.    9  
July  25  

Aug  11 

Sept.   3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.   3  
Sept    3  

Sept.   3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  

Sept    3  
Sept.  3  

Sept    3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  U  

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  

Discharged  March  18,  1865,  as 

Shepherd,  George  
Shepherd,  Isaac  V  
Southard,  John   B  

Trans,  to  Inv.  Corps  Sept.  1,'63. 
Killed  at  Kenesaw  June  27,  '64. 
Absent,  sick,  at  M.  ().  of  Reg't. 
Killed  at  Kenesaw  Jnne  27,  '64 
M.  O  July  1,  '65,  as  Corp'l  ;  was 

Smith  Chas  8  

Died  Sept.  7,  '64;  wounds  
Trans,  to  marine  service,  Mar 
11,  '63. 
Trans,  to  Inv.  Corps  Sept.  1,  '63. 
M.  0.  June  9,  '65,  as  musician, 
as  Serg't  

Grunt  

Pilot  
Vance   
Danville    .... 
Grant  
Grant  

Aug.  11  

Aug.  13  
July  22  
Ang  12  
Aug  11  
Aug  11  

Aug.  14  
Aug.  14   .... 

Wilkins,  William  
Wolf  Michael  A  

Winning,  I'avid  M  

White,  Wm.  A  
Webb,  John  
Recruit!  . 

Died  Andersonville  pris.,  Sept. 
14,'64.     No.  of  grave.  8,755. 
Discharged  Jan.  27,  1863  
i  Mustered  out  June  9,  '65  

Discharged  Mar.  3,  '63  ;  disabil. 

Danville  
G  eorgetown  . 

Danville 

Buesiug.  Geo.  K  
Black,  William    
Calvert,  Hutchioson.. 

Vermilion  co 
Chicago   
Danville  

Dec.  29,  1863 
Dec.  29,  1863 

Oct.    5,  1864 
Nor.  18,  188 

Dec.  29,  1863 

OctToVYsei" 
Nov.is.Ts'ea 

Trans,  to  Co.  C,  60th  111.  Inf.... 
Died  at  Nashville  Dec.  18,  '62... 
Trans,  to  Co.  C.  6<>th  III.,  Inf... 
Deserted  Sept.  13,  1862  
Trans,  to  Co.  C,  60th  III.  Inf.... 
Mustered  out  Jnne  9,  1865  

McCue,  Thomas  
O'Connor  Wm  

Williams.  William...., 

11 

THE  I25TH  REGIMENT  I.    V.  I. 


ENLISTED    MEN    OF   COMPANY    "  D." 


Name  and  Hank. 

Residence. 

Date  of 
enlistment. 

Date  of 
muster. 

Remarks. 

First  Sergeant. 
Oliver  Finley  

Georgetown... 

18U2 
Aug.  6    

1x62. 
Sept.  3   

Promoted  1st  Lieutenant  

Sergeants. 
William  J.  Briukley... 
Geo.  V.  Baker  

Aug.  6  
Aug  0  

Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Discharged     Feb.  —   1803,    as 

privxte  :  tlisabi  ity  

Edmund  W.  Eakin  

ElimG'.lden  
Corporals. 
Isaac  E  Parks  

Martin  L   Hill  

Dallas   
Georgetown... 

Dallas   

Aug.  6  
Aug.  13  
Aug.  6    
Aug  7  

Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept   3  

1st  Serg.     Absent,  sick,  at  M. 
O.  of  Keg't. 
Private.     Tr.     to    Inv.  Corps, 
Sspt  1,  '63. 
Mustered  out  June   9,   '65,  as 
Sergeant. 

Aug  6  

Sept   3   

Private     Tr  to  E  Corps    Aug 

15    '64  

Jacob  B.  Clifton  

Vermilion  co- 

Aug.  H  
Aug  10   

Sept.  3   
Sept   3 

Mustered   out  June,  9,   '65,  as 
Sergeant. 

Carroll  Moore  

Georgetown... 

Aug.  13  
Aug   10  

Sept.  3    
Sept.  3   

disability. 
Private.    Killed  at  Atlanta,  Ga. 
July  l»,  '64. 

David  8.  Tucker  

€t 

Aug.  7  

•*ept.  3   

of  Kcg't.  • 

Privates. 
Alexander,  Uarvey  

Brennan,  Patrick  
Black,  Franklin  

Bisner,  Cornelius  
Baily,  Chas.  K  

Vermilion  co. 
Georgetown... 

Vermilion  .... 

Aug.  H  

Aug.  10  
Aug.  10  

Aug.  6  
Aug.  11  

Sept.  3  

Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  

disability. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865,  as 
Corporal. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Died  at  Chattanooga,  T.,  July 
5,  '64  ;  wounds. 
Mustered  out  July    15,   1865; 
was  prisoner. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

Aug.  6  

Sept.  3  

Cook,  Frank  
Canaday,  H.  D  
Clipson,  John  C  
Clary  Bobt  

Georgetown  .. 
Vermilion  .... 

Aug.  9  
Aug.  7  
Aug,  10  
Aug.  11  

Sept.  3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  

Mustered  out  Juno  9,  1865  

Blustered  cut  May  18,1865  
Disch    Jan    27    '65    as  Corp'l  • 

Cook,  Zacheus  
Catun,  Richard  
Cotton,  Allen  
Douglas,  Payton  

Georgetown... 

Aug.  11  
Aug.  10  
Aug.  19  
Aug.  6  

Sept.  3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.  3  

disability. 
Tr.  to  Eng.  Corps,  Aug.  24,  '64.. 
Disch.  Oct.  24,  1862;  disability.. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Absent,  sick  at  M.  O.  of  Keg't. 

Downs,  John  W  
Dye,  John  s  
Dillon,  George  
Draper,  John  

\    :::::: 

Aug.  6  
Aug.  8  
Aug.  31  
Aug    14  

Sept.   3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  

Disch.  Aug.  1,  1863:  disability.. 
M.O.  May  22,  '65,  as  Corp'l  
Absent,  sick,  at  M.  O.  of  Beg't.. 
Died  at  Nashville  March  1,  '63  . 

Donnovan,  Cbas  

i 

Aug    13  

Sept.  3  

Mustered   out    June    9,    1865. 

Dickerson,  F.  M  
Elliott,  Eli  

Aug.  10  
Ang.  11  

Sept.  3  
Sept    3 

Corp'l     Died  at  Nashville,  Dec. 
6,  '62. 
Died  at  Louisville,  Nov.  16,  '62. 

Fleming,  Miirtin  
Frazier,  William  
Glaze,  Samuel  

Georgetown  .. 

Sept.  3    
Aug.  10  
Aug.  6  

Sept.  3  
Sept    3  
Sept    3 

Disch.  Jan.  27,1863;  disability 
M.  O.  June  9,  1865,  as  Corp'l  
Killed  at  Kenesaw  June  27,  '61 

Gauts,  John  J  

« 

Ang    10  

Sept.  3 

Mustered  out  June  9  1865  

Guess,  Thomas  

11 

Aug.  9  

Sept.  3  

Killed  at  Kenesaw  June  27,  64. 

Golden,  Bichard  
Gauts,  Henry  0  

„        

Aug.  10  
Aug.  10  

Sept.  3  
Sept    3  . 

M  O.  June  9,  '65,  as  Corp'l  
Died   Bowling  Green,  Ky  ,  Dec. 

Gephart,  J.  M  

Dallas  

Ang   11  

Sept.   3  

10,  '62. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

Graves,  John  L  

Georgetown  .. 

Aug.  10  

Sept.  3  

Died  at  homo  Dec  3,  1864  

Hinton,  Benjamin  
Hinton,  William  
Hosier,  A.  J  

Vermilion   ... 
Georgetown  .. 

Aug.  10  
Aug.  10  
Aug    7    

Sept.   3  
Sept.   3  
Sept    3  

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

Hnworth,  Solomon  
Hayett,  Jas.  H  

Vermilion   ... 

Aug   23  
Aug.  11  

Sept.  3  
Sept.   3  

"                      "           

192 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 


Name  and  Hank 

Residence. 

Date  of 
enlistment. 

m^te°rf                         *«*.. 

Privates. 
Hall,  James  li  

Georgetown  .. 

1862. 
Aug.  6  
Aug    8  

1862. 
Sept.   3  
Sept    3  

Disch   Mar  19,  '63;  disability.. 
Killed  at  Jonesboro,  Sept.  1,  '64 

KUtler,  J.  J.  B  

Vermilion   ... 
Georgetown  .. 

Vermilion   ... 
Georgetown  . 

Pontiac  
Georgetown  .. 

Dallas  
Georgetown  .. 

Aug.  8  
Aug    11  
Aug.  6  
Aug.   13  
Aug.  10  
Aug.  in  
Aug.   13  
Aug.  13  
Aug.  8  
Aug.  Id  
Aug.  11  
Aug.  It  
Aug.  10  
Aug.  11  
Aug.  10  
Aug.  15  
Aug.  6  
Aug.  10  

Sept.   3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3   
.^ept.  3  
Sept    3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3    
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Si-pt.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.   3  

"                       "as  Corp'I 
Killed  at  Kenesaw  June  27,  '64 
Di-d,  Kesaca,  May  16  '64;  w'ds 
Mustered  out  May  17,  1865  
Died  at  Nashville,  April  10,'63.. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

Diech.  Oct.  25,  '62;  disability... 
Disch.  May  4,18(33;  disability- 
Died  at  Kdg»  field  Nov.  9,  '62... 
Discb.  March  9,  '63;  disability. 
Tr.  to  luv.  Corps,  April  3d,  '64.. 
Died,B.wling  Green  Dec.  11,  '62 
Mustered  out  July  17,1865  
Killed  at  Kenesaw  Jniie  27,  '64 
Disch  Dec.  1C,  '64;  disability... 
Died,  Rowling  Green  Dec.  27.'G2 
Died,  Danville.  Ky..  Nov.  1,  '64 
Mustered  out  June  9  1865  
Dicch.  Jan.  27,  '63,  as  Corp'I; 
disability  

Lamar,  Prank  
Lockett,  Joho   W  
Loveall,  Eugenius  

McClure.  Geo.  W  
McDonald,  A.  A  

Melton,  William  
Martin,  John  M  
Morgan,  Sylvester  

Parker   Thos    til  

Rednour,  John  S  

Rowland  Thos..!  

Danville  
Georgetown  .. 

Dallas  

Perryville  ... 

Georgetown  .. 

Selma   
Dal  las 

Aug.  10  
Aug.  13  
Aug.  6  

Ai.g   8  
Aug.  9  
Aug    10  
Aug.  10  
Aug.  13  
Aug    8  
Aug.  13  
Aug.  10  

Aug.  14  

Aug  22  
Aug.  8  

Sept.   13  

Sept    3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  

Sept    3  

Sept.   3  
Sept    3  

Sept.  13  

Ridnour,  Samuel  
Swank  John  W  

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

Disch.  Jan.  27,  '63  ;  disability... 
Discb.  Aptil  11/63;  disability.. 
Tr.  to  Inv.  Corps,  Sept.  1.  '63... 
Disch.  Jan.  27,  '63  ;  disability... 
Disch.  May  7,  1864;  disability.. 
Committed  suicide  at  Edgefield 
Aug.  10,  '63.  Supposed  insane 
Corp'I.     Died  at    Chattanooga, 

Sweeney,  Joseph  
Shoemaker,   San  ford... 
Shearer,  Josephus  
Swank,  R.  H  
Thompson  ,  Abram  B... 
Whillock,  Wm  
Wallingaford,  .las.  E... 

West  William  

Weer,  Wm.  R  
Whitcomb,  E.  T  

lieci  uit». 
Hinton,  Thomas.  
Hughes,  Jas.  O  

Disch.  July  30,  '63;  disability.. 
Disch.  Oct.  i!J,  '64;  disability- 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Died  at  Nashville  July  22  '63... 
Disch.  Jan   14  '64;  disability... 
Trans,  to  Co.  D,  6uth  III.  Inf... 

Moore,  George  
Moore  Charles  

Geuigetown  ..  Sept.  8,  '63.. 
Nov.  18,  '63.. 

Sept.  8,  '63... 
Nov.  18,  '63.. 

ENLISTED    MEN    OF    COMPANY    "E." 


Name  and  Rank. 

Residence 

Date  of 

en  list  mi-  nt. 

Date  of 
muster. 

Remarks. 

first  i-ergeant. 
Martin  V.  Stone  

1X62. 
Aug  15 

186-2. 
Sept    3  

Promoted  2d  Lieutenant  

Sergeants. 

Sidney  

"     15 

Absent  sick,  at  M   O.  of  Reg't. 

George  Scroggs  
G.  W.  B.  Sadorus  

Champaign  ... 

"     8    
"     12  

same  

Promoted  Sergeant  Major  
Promoted  Captain  

Wil  i  m  Wilsey  

Corporals. 
John  F.  Water*  
Eli  S.  Cook  

Champaign... 

"     6    

"     6    
"     12  

same   .   ... 
same   

Disch.  July  14,  '64,  as  private; 
disability 
Mustered  out  June  9,'65,  aspvt. 
Died  at  Nashville  June  7,  '64... 

.las.  H.  Simpson  

Champaign... 

"    7    
"     8 

same   

M.  0.  June  9.  '65,  as  Sergeant. 
Killed  at  Kenesaw  June  27  '64 

J.  A.  Harrison  
William  Humphrey  

Sadorus  
Sidney  

"    12  
"     19  
"     4    ... 

same    
same   

Died  at  borne  March  2,  1863  
M.  O  June  13,  '65,  as  Serg't  

Ge  •.  T.  Williamson  ... 
Musician. 
John  Rowe  

Sidney  
Sadorus  .... 

"     15  
"     15  

Bxme   
same   ... 

Disch.  Aug.  20,  '64  ;  disability.. 
Tr.  to  luv.  Corns.  Jan.  5.  '64  

THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 


193 


Name  and  Bank. 

Residence. 

Dato  of 
enlistment 

Date  of 
muster. 

Remarks 

Privatef. 
Ashby  William  
Appiegitte,  Samuel  
Burris,  Wm.  L  

Sidney  
Champaign... 
Sidney  
Champaign... 

Danville  
Sadorus  

1862 
Aug  15  
'•     15  
"     11   
"     19  
'•     7     
"     11  
"     11  

"     10  
"     12  
"     12  
'•     12  
"     15  
"     14  

"     11  
"     12  
"     22  
"     15  

"     12  
"     11  

"    4 

1862. 
dept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3    
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3    
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3    

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3    
Sept   3    
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3    

Sept   3   
Sepr.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3    

Sept.  3  ........ 
Sept.  3  
Sept  3 

Oisch.  Murch  14,  '63;  disability. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865....'.. 

Burns,  Frank  

Absent,  sick,  at  M.  0.  of  Reg't. 
Deseited  Oct.  9,  '62  

Boak,  William  

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Died,  Chattanooga  July  15,  '64; 
wounds. 
Disch.  Jan.  20,  '63  ;  disability- 
Died,  Na-hville  Nov.  21,  1862... 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
"                  "           as  Corp'i 
Died,  Bowling  Green  Dec  1,  '62 
Killed   at   Beutonville,   N.  C.. 
March  19,  '65. 
UuHtered  out  June  9,  1665  

Bates,  Daniel  W  
Cade,  Wilijam  

Coble,  John  H  
Caster  Thus  W 

Campbell,  Wm.N  
Campbell,  Jag.  0  

Cnlbertson.  Hugh  

}hampaign  ... 

Da  rah,  Samuel  
Deer,  Thomas  

Sndorus  
Sidney   

4.                                                     II 

Died,  Big  Shanty,  Ga.,  July   1, 
'64;  wounds. 
Tr.  to  Invalid  Corps,  Jan.  5,  '64 
Discharged  at  Nashville,  Teuu. 
Died  in  Georgia,  Sept.  2,  1864; 
wounds. 
Tr.  to  Inv  Corps,  Jan  5,  1864... 
Absent,  sick,  at  M.  O.  of  Rcg't. 
Must,  out  July  1,  '65;  pits,  war 
Disch.  Jan.  27,  '63  ;  disability... 
M.  0.  June  9,  1865,  as  Corp'i... 

Kllers,  James  
Fteg  John  

Sadorus    
Champaigii  ... 

Gibson,  William  

Gilmer,  Alexander  
Gill,  John  

-         

"    6    
"    11 

Sept.  3  

Harrison.  Geo.  XV  
Harper,  Robt  

Sadoius  
Champaign  ... 

Sadnrus  
Champaign... 
Sadorus  

Champaign... 
Danville  
Sadorus  
Champaign  ... 

"     12  
"     2     
"    8     
"     12  
"     12  
"     11  
"     12  
"     12  
"     11  
Sept  4     
Aug  12  

"    1     
"    8    
•«     7     

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
-ept.3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
•Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3    
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   

Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept    3    

Johnson,  Levi  
Kemlell.  William  
King,  Ransom  B  
baughlin,  Moses  T  
Lewis.  Thomas  W  
LaCost,  John  

Disch.  March  3.  '63:  disability 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

ii                      ii 

Deserted  Nov.  5.  1862  
Discharged  Sept.  21,  1864  
Mustered   out  June  9,  1865,  ab 
Corporal. 
Diech.  Slar.  14,  '63;  disability.. 
Di.ch   May,  4,  '64;  disability... 
Disch.  July  8,  1863  ;  disability.. 

Monroe,  Chas.  B  

McKean,  Victor  
McKinney.  John  W  
Miller    John  H  

Mvera.Geo.  W  
Miller,  H.  J  
Pierce,  Daniel  

Danville  
Sidney  
Champaign  ... 

»     11  
"     10  
"    5     
"     6     
«•     g     

Sept.  3    
Sept.  3    
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
•Jept    3  

Died  at  Savannah  J:in  15,  '65... 
Tr  to  Inv.  Corps,  Jan.  5,  '64.... 
Disch.  July  23,  '63;  disability... 
Absent,  fick.  at  M.O.  of  Reg't. 
'  led  at  Nashville  May  14,  '63... 
M.  U.  June  2,  '65  ;  was  prisoner 

i< 

Ramsey,  Hugh  

"        

"    2     

"    7 

Sept.  3  
Sept    3  

Ruck  man.  Geo.  A  
StultH,  John  

••     15  
"    12  

"     12  
"     12  

"     11  
'    8     
'     8 

Sept    3  
Sept.  3  

Sept.  3  
Sept.   3  

Sept    3  
Sept.  3  
Sept     3  .... 

Sadorus  
Champaign... 

Dicch.  Mar.  8,  '65,  as  Corporal  ; 
disability. 
Oisch.  Apr.  20,  '63;  disability... 
Died  at  Goldsboro,  N.  C.,  April 
5,  '05;  wounds. 
Deserted  Oct.  9.  1862  
Disch  Feb.  24.  '63;  disability... 
Mustered  out  June  9,  '6G  

"                      "    1st  Serjc. 
Died,  <  hattanooga,  Aug  2,  '61; 
wounds. 
M  .  O.  June  20,  '65  ;  was  pris  
Died  at  1  ouisville  Jan.  13.'63... 
Mustered  out  June  9,1865  
Killed.  J<.nesboro  Sept  1,  '64... 
Absent,  sick,  at  M.  0.  of  Reg't. 

Silvers,  William  
Shafer.   Philip  

Sadnrus  
Sidney  

Sadorus  
Champaign  .. 
Sidney  

'     11  
•     12  
'     15  

"     11  
••     8     
"     15  
"     22  
"    4     

Sept.  3  
Sept.  «  
Sept.  3   

Sept.   3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.   3  

Taff.  Jaa.  L  
Taylor,  George  

Urquhart,  Parden  
Williams,  John  
Williamson.  David  
Wilinu.  Jacob  
Wcckmire,  XVilliam.... 

26 


i94 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I. 


Name  and  Kank. 

Residence 

Date  of 
enlistment. 

Date  of 
muster. 

Remarks. 

Privates. 
Wibley,  William  
Williams    William  
Wilson,  John  

Champaign  ... 

1862. 
Aug.   2  
"    5     
"    11  
"    U  

1862 
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.   3  
Sept    3 

Disch.  May  18,  '63  ;  disability... 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
De^rted  Oct  9.  1862  
Dfsch.  Mar  22    '65-  disability 

Whitfield,  Lewis  
Yates,  *amuel  B  

„        

"    15  
«•    12  

Sept    3  
Sept   3   

Mustered  out  Juae  9,  1865  

Yates,  Louis  
York,  Charles  
Young,  M    M  

Sadorus  

"    12  
"     12  
•«    19  

Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept   3 

Tr.  to  Inv.  Corps  Jan.  5,  1864... 
Died  at  Chattanooga  Dec  9,'64. 
Tr.  to  Inv.  Corps  Jan   6  1864 

Recruits. 
Danford,  Nelson  
Latour,  Henry  
Lindsey,  Wm.  L  

Roberts,  John  W  

Champaign  ... 
Sadorus  
Danville  

Champaign  ... 

Aug  12  
Dec.  30,'63... 

Aug"."l2".'.'.'..! 
Dec.  30   

Mustered  out  Jnne  9,  1865  
Tr.  to  Inv.  Corp*  Jan.  5,  1864... 
Died,  Chattanooga  July  14,  '64; 
wounds. 
Diecli.  Feb   2  '63;  disability... 

•Stultx  Qeo   A  

:::::::::  

Troy.  Martin  

Danville  

r     ;;;;;;;;;; 

Deserted  Nov.  4,  1862  

ENLISTED    MEN    OF    COMPANY    "  F. 


Name  and  Rank. 

Residence. 

Date  of 
enlistment. 

Date  of 
muster. 

Remarks. 

First  Sergeant 
William  R.  Shoup  
Sergeants. 
Joseph  H  White  

Newcomb  

Newcomb  
East  Bend  

Newcomb  ..  .. 
East  Bend  
Newcomb  

1862. 
Aug.  7  

Aug.  9    
Aug.   11  

Aug.   11  
Aug.  9  

Aug.  11  

Aug.  9    
Aug.  7    
Aug.  11  
Aug.  15  
Aug  7  
Aug.  9  
Aug.  7  

Aug.  7    
Aug.  9  
Aug.  14  
Aug.  11  
Aug  11  
Aug.  11  
Aug  7  
Aug.  7  
Aug.  9  
Aug.  12  
Aug.  14  
Aug.  7  
Aug.  9  
Aug.  15  
Aug.  9  
Aug.  11  

Aug,  11  
Aug.  2  
Aug.  11  
Aug.  9  
Aug.  11  
Aug.  7  

1x62. 
Sept.  3   

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3   

Sept.  3    
Sept.  3   

Sept.  3   

Sej.t   3  
Sept.  3   
Sept.   3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.   3  
Sept    3  

Sept.  3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept    3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.  3  

Sept.  3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  ... 

Promoted  2d  Lieutenant  

Mustered  out  June  9,  '65,  as  1st 
Sergeant. 
Died   at  Bowling  Green,  Dec. 
19,  '62. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  '65  

James  Smith  

Bugh  Mitcliell  
Royal  A.Sizer  
Corporals. 
Henry  M.  Rudolph  

Hugh  C.  Minhix  

Kilk'd    at  Bentonville,   N.  C., 
Mar.  19,  '65. 
Serg't.      Killed   at    Kenesaw, 
June  27,  '64. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

Died,  Harroduburg.Pec.  4,  '62. 
Mustered  out  June  9,'65,  as  pvt. 

"        as  Serg. 

Absent,  sick  at  M.  0.  of  Reg't. 
Killed  at  Ken  .  saw  June  27,  '64 
Promoted  Quartermaster  Serg't 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Disch.  Mar.  20.  '64;  disability.. 
M.  0.  June  9,  1865,  as  Corp'l.... 

Joseph  C.  Pancake  
James  M  Johnson  

James  M.  White  
Nathan  F.  Trotter  
Privates. 
Abbott,  Jordan  
Ater,  Zttclmriah  
Beasley,  David  H  
Beanglimai).  A.  J  

Newcomb  

E»st  Bend  
Newcomb  
Champaign  ... 
East  Bend  ... 

Champion,  Lyman  E... 
Chri-ity,  Richard  

Middleton    ... 
East  Bend  ... 

Newcomb  .... 
East  Bend  ... 
Newcomb  .... 

East  Bend  .. 

Newcomb  .... 
East  Bend  .. 

»               i> 

Caldwell,  John  
Coffman,  Wm.  K  

Died,  Harrodsburg  Oct.  30.  '63. 
Died.  Btirdstown  Nov.  20,  '62... 
Disch.  Jan.  16,  '64  ;  disability... 
Mustered  out  June  9  1865  

Promoted  Hospital  Steward  
Mustered   out    June    9,    1865. 
Accidentally  killed  «t  Chicka- 
mauga  Sta.,  Nov.  26,  1863  .... 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Tr.  to  Inv.  (Jorps,  Sept  3d,  '63  .. 
Discharged  Feb.  10,  1863  
Pris.  war.  Captured  Dec.  15,  '64 
Mustered  out  Juno  9,  1865  

Fenters,  Eli  

Henderson,  Parson  

Howard,  G.  W  
Houston.  A.  J  

THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.    V.  I. 


195 


Name  and  Bank. 

Residence. 

Date  of 
enlistment. 

Date  of 
Muster. 

Remarks. 

Prieatei. 
Houston.  Benj  

East  Bend  ... 

Pilot  '.."" 
East  Bend  ... 
Newcomb  

Pilot  ".'.'.'.'. 
Park  co.,  Ind. 
Newcomb  

Ch  impaijfu  ... 
Kast  Bend  ... 

Newcomb  
Kast  Bend  ... 
Pilot  

18t>2 
Aug.  7  
Aug.  7  
Aug.  7  
Aug   7  
Aug   7  
Aug.  10  

Aug.  7  
Aug.  10  
Aug.  U.  
Aug.  11.  
Aug.  7  
Aug.  7  

Aug.  9  
Aug.  7  
Aug.  7  
Aug    11  
Aug.  11  
Aug.  11  
Aug.  9  
Aug.  7  
Aug.  21  
Ang.  9  

Aug    10  
Aug.  10  
Ang.  7  
Aug.  9  

Aug.  11  
Ang.  11  
Aug.  7  
Aug.  7  
Ang.  9  
Aug.  11  
Aug.  11  
Aug.  12  

Ang.  9  

Aug.  11  
Ang.  11  
Aug.  9  
AuK.  9  
Aug.  9  
Aug.  9  
Aug.  7    
Aug.  9  
Aug.  7  
Aug.  11  

Feb.  2,  '64... 
Feb.  2,  '64... 
Nov    17,  '63.. 
Nov.  17,  '63.. 
Aug.  3.  '63... 
Nov.  17,  '63.. 
Dec.  2,  '63... 
Dec.  2.  '63... 
Nov.  17,  '63.. 
Mar.  30,  '64.. 
NOT.  17,  '63.. 
Dec.  3,  '63... 

1862 
Sept.  3    
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3    
Sept.  3    
Sept.  3    

Sept.  3   
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3   
Sept   3   
Sept.  3   

Sept    3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   .;.... 
Sept.  3  

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.  3  
Sept    3  
Sept.  3  

Sept.  3  

Sept.   3  
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.  ?,  
Sept     3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.   3  

Feb.  2,  1864.. 
Feb.  2,  1864.. 
Nov.17,'63... 
Nov.  17,'63... 
Sept.  4.'63  ... 
Nov.  17.'63... 
Dec.  4  '63  
Dec.  4,'63.  ... 
Nov.17,'63... 
Mar.  30  '64... 
Nov.  I7,'63... 
Dec.  3,'63  

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

11                     u 

Jackway.  Geo.  W  
Jeffries,  James  
Jess,  William  

Jenniugo,  William  
Kirsh,  John  G  
Kelly.  Thomas  
Leaner,  Isaac  
Lynch    Wm  F   

Transferred  to  Co.  I  
Mustered  out  June  9  1865.... 

Died    of    wounds    received  at 
Kuuesaw,  June  27,  '64  

Died  at  Louisville.  Dec  18.  '63... 
Transferred  to  Co.  I  
Mustered  out  June  23,  1865  
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

Killed  at  Louisville  Nov.  29,'64 

Killed,  Kenesaw  June  30,  '64... 
Mustered  out.  June  9,  1865  
Discharged  March  21,  1863  
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

Died  at  Nashville  Dec.  3,  '63.... 
Tr.  to  Eng.  Corps,  Ang.  10,  '64. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Died  at  Louisville  Nov.  12,  '62. 

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
as  Cerp'l 

Mavoney,  Ithtimas  

Merrill.  H.  M  
Myers,  Frederick  
Myern,  Henry  
Mitchell,  John  

East  Bend  ... 
Newcomb  
Kist  Bend  ... 

Newcomb  

Middleton  
Ka«t  Bend  ... 
Newcomb  .... 

East  Bend  ... 
Newcomb  .... 
East  Bend  ... 

Newcomb  .... 

East  Hend  ... 

Champaign  ... 
Newcomb  .... 
') 

East  Bend  ... 

Newcomb  .... 
Middleton    ... 

Newcomb  .... 
Middleton   ... 

Rantoul  
Newcomb  .... 
Middleton   ... 
Cairo  

Miller,  Alfred  

Nickelson,  Charles  
Newell.  John  W  
Osburn,  Christian  
Peofley,  Jonathan  

Pugh   Marshall  

Rowen,  Philip  
Bobbing,  A.  B  

Howe,  \Vm.S  
Randolph,  Chas.  W...  . 
Snell,  Clark  B  
Ktephenson,  S.  G  

Corp'l.    Died,  Borne,  Ga.,  May 
30.  '64. 
Discharged  June  4,  1863  
Mustered  out  June  9,  '65  
Transferred  to  Co.  I  
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

"                         "   as  Corp'l 
Died,  Harrodsbnrg,  Nov.  25,  '62 

Diisch.Dec.  13,  '64  as  Corp'l; 
wounds. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Died  »t  Nashville  Dec.  12,  '62... 
Died  at  Nashville  Apr.  12,  '63... 
M  .  0.  May  15,  '65,  as  Corp'l  
Mustered  out  July  4,  1865  

Sho  waiter,  Jonathan... 

Scott,  Edwin  
Taylor,  John  Q  

Warfield,  Richard  ... 
Wauj-h   David  

Weaver,  W.    B  
Weaver,  Hiram  D  
White,  John  J  
Whitney,  Jas.  L  
Woolsey,  Alonza  A  
Woodcock,  James  
Williams,  Richard  
Recruits. 
Barton,  J.  N  
Barton,  Stephen  
Campbell,  Thos.  J  
Fenters.  Samuel  
Fetty,  Newton  

Tr.  to  Inv.  Corps,  Feb.  5,  1864... 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Tr.  to  Inv.  Corps,  Sept.  30,  '63.. 
Mustered  out  June  9,1865  

Tr  to  Co  A  60th  111   Inf.  

Killed  at  Kenesaw  June  27,  '64 
Tr  to  Co  A   60th  III   Inf.  

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Tr.  to  Inv.  Corps   Nov.  17,  '64.. 
Disch.  Feb.  21,  '65  ;  wounds  
Trans,  to  Co.  A,  60th  111.  luf... 

Hites  Jas.  0.  K  
Jess,  Thomas  
Latter,  Alexander  
Osl-uni,  Christian  
Ray,  John  8  

Stout.  Martin  
Woodcock,  John  L  

196 


THE    I25TH    REGIMENT    I.   V.    I. 


ENLISTED   MEN   OF   COMPANY    "  G. 


Name  and  Rauk. 

Residence. 

Date  of 

enlistment. 

Date  of 
muster. 

Remarks. 

Sergeants. 
Newton  Norrig  
A.  A.  Sulcer  
Henry  Gotten  
Elisha  Littler  
William  Hurt  

)auville  
Gatlin  
Georgetown  .. 
Gatlin  

1862 
Aug  11  
'•    11  
"     11  
"     1  1  
"     11  

"  il  

1862. 
Sept.  3  
same   
same  
same  
game   .   ... 

Promoted  2d  Lieutenant  
Promoted  Hospital  Steward  
Discharge  1  Ffb.  14,  1863  
Promoted  1st  Lieutenant  

Died  ut  Nashville,  April  2,  '63.. 

Deserted  at  Louisville,  Ky  
M.  0.  June  9,  '65,  as  Serg't  
Serg't.    Killed,  Marietta,   Ga., 
June  27,  '64. 

Corporals. 

Wm    Hawkins  

11 

"  11  
»  11  

same  
same  

same  
same    

same   
same   
same   

lame   
game   

same   

same   
same   
same    
same   
same  
same  
same    
same    
game   
same    
same   
game   

it 

Tairmount  ... 
Gatliu  

"  11  
"  11  

"  11  
"  11 

John  Todd  

Joseph  Buckingham... 
Jeptha  K.  Turner  
Franklin  McKinsey  

Serg't.    Killed,  Marietta,  Ga., 
June  27.  '64. 
VI.  O.  June  22,  '65,  as  Sergeant.. 

H 

"  11 

M,.  0.  June  13,  '65,  as  private... 

Discharged  at  Nashville  
Discharged  Nov.  15,  1862  

Mustered  out  June  9,  '65  

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Discharged  March  17,  lt-64  
Died  at  Nashville  Dec.  22,  '62... 
Discharged  March  7,  1863  
M.  O.  June  9,  1865,  as  Corp'l...  . 

Musicians. 
Joseph  ship  
Joseph  Orosby  
,    Wagoner. 
Andrew  C.  Hi^nett  
Privates. 

fair  mount  ... 
Catliii  

"  It  
"  11  

"  11  
"  11 

,1 

"  11  
"  11  
"  11  
"  11  
"  11  
"  11  
"  11 

Boprgest,  H.  M  
Gulp,   Marion  
Clayton   J  J    

"        '...... 

Gulp   J    D  

Clearwater,  Richard.... 
Davidson,  J"hn  G  

Discharged  Feb.  23,  1863  
Discharged  at  Nashville..  .«.  
Mustered  out  June  9  1865  
Discharged  Feb    11    1863  

H 

•'  11 

Darlin  E    P  

Danville  
ratlin  

"  It  
"  11  

"  11 

Eacret,  Samuel  
Evans  T.  L.  H  

Tr.  to  luv.  Corps  Oct.  '<i9,  '63  

M.  0.  June  9,  '65,  as  Sergeant. 
"     ag  Gorp'l  

Flougher,  William  
Felmley   William  

Fair-mount   ... 
Pilot  

"  \1 

"  11 

Gee.  Mathias  

Catlin  

"  11  
"  11 

same   

Died,  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Nov. 
16,  '62. 
M.  O.  June  9,  '65,  as  Corp'l  
Died  at  Nashville  Nov.  6,  1862.. 
Killed  uear  Marietta,  Ga.,  June 
27,  '64. 
Discharged  Dec  5  1862  

"  11 

same   
game   
same   

same   
same   

same   
game   

same   
same   
Kami!    
same   
same   
same   
same    
siime    
same   

same   

Herring,  Henry  
Herring,  Elisha.  

Hall,  Marvin  0  

Danville  
Pilot  

Catlin  

"  11  
"  11  

"  11  
"  11  

"  11  
"  11  

"  it  

Died  at  Perry  ville  Oct.  8,  1862.. 

Discharged  March  7.  1863  
Killed  near  Marietta,  Ga.,  June 
2"   64     

»    :::::: 

Lyman,   Warren  
Lenover,  John  

Tr.  to  luv.  Corps,  Sept.  16,  '63.. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

Died,  Nashville  March  23,  '63... 
Discharged  Jan.  23,  1865  

Littler,  Oyrus  R  
Leaky,  Geo.  M  

:;   :::::: 

"  11  
"  11  
"  11  
"  11 

I  .oman.  James  

Lyman.  Jonathan  

"   

"  11  
"  11  
"  11  

Tr.  to  luv  Corps,  Sept.  16,  '63.. 
Mustered  out  June  9.  1865  
Killed,  Marietta,  June  27,  '64... 
Died,  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Nov. 
25   '62  

Littler,  John  

u 

Littler,  Edwin  

ti 

•'  11  

•'  it  

Died,  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Nov. 
6,  '62. 
Killed  near  Marietta,  Ga.,  June 
27,  '64. 
Discharged  at  Nashville  
Mustered  out  June  15,  1865  

Neel,  Jacob  N  

Nire,  Adam  
Ogle,  Francis  M  

" 

"  H  

"  11  
"  11  

same   

t>ame   
same   

THE    I25TH    REGIMENT   I.    V.    I. 


I97 


Name  and  Bank. 

Residence. 

Date  of 
enlistment. 

Date  of 
muster. 

Remarks. 

Private*. 
O'Ntal,  Thuim.1.  

Danville  

1862. 
Aug  11  

1862. 
Sept.  3  

Killed  near  Marietta,  Ga.,  June 
27,  '64  

>< 

««     11  

Otfden,  Jus.  F  
Offett,  Gabriel  
Piper,  Wm.  H  
Parker,  Charles.  
Parker  Hubert  

atlin   ...'".'.'.' 

"     11  
"     It  
"    It  
"     11  
«•    it  

same   
same   
same   
bame  

Mustered  out  June  22,  1865  
Died  at  Louisville  Dec.  30,  '62.. 
liischarged  Dec.  12,  1862  
Mustered  uut  June  9,  18b5  

u 

•  •     11  

ii                        >i 

Reynolds,  John  W  
Swoap    It   F          . 

Danville 

"     U  
•«    11  

siime   

Discharged  Feb.  12,  1863  
Died  at  Nashville  Dec   1    '62 

!"hepbard,  M.  B  

Catliu    

«•  n  

Difcharged   Fob  15   1863  .... 

«  n  

Spangler,  Wm  
Smith,  John  D  
Sullivan   Patrick  

Danville  
Catltn   

•   u  
•  11  
«  11  

Mime 
same   

Killed  Ht  Jonesboro,  Sept.1,'64. 
Died  Chattanooga   July  26  '61. 

K        

•  n  

Deserted  Dec  5   18C3  

Scott,  William  

« 

'   n 

same 

Trans,  to  Pioneer  Corps  

Smith,  John  N  

>< 

11 

Diechargtd  Oct.  23,  1862  

Snider,  William.  ..... 

• 

11 

Swain.  Samuel..  

• 

u 

Killed,  Marietta,  June  27,  '64... 

Swain,  Marion  .... 

M 

•ii 

M.  O.  June  9.  1865,  as  Corp'l.... 

Stobangh,  Alexander... 

<• 

11  

same   

Deserted  at  Louisville,  Ky  

ct 

n 

it 

11 

M.  O.  Jnly  1,  '65;  was  pris  

Tasu,  Je8^e  

it 

11 

Died  at  Nashville  Dec  17,  1862. 

tt 

u 

M   0  June  9  '65  as  Torp'l  

it 

11 

WillJams   A  J  

ii 

n 

Killed   Marietta  June  27  '64... 

Wright  Kdward  

I. 

11 

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

Williams,  William  

It 

11  

Discharged  Dec.  12,  1862  

Williams  David  
Wilson   Benj     .  ......... 

u           

11  
11 

same    

Discharged  Feb.  18,  1863  „. 
Died  March  ''7   1863  

Wilson   .Tame*  

« 

••  11  

r>isch»rged  Dec.  12,1862  „.. 

Walker  Isaiah  G  

M 

••   11  

Died  ChattaBooga,  Jan.  11,  '64. 

Recruit*. 

m 

Discharged  Jan  6  1863  

Pnzey,  Thomas  

"            

Dec.  19,'63... 
Aug.  11,  '64.. 

Dec.  19,'63  ... 
Sept  4  '6-2... 

Trans,  to  Co.  G,  60th  111.  Inf... 
M.  0  June  9  1865,  as  lit  Serg't 

Turner,  James  

Veimilinn   ... 

Mar.  8.  '64... 

Mar.  8,  '64... 

Trans,  to  Co  G.  60th  111.  Inf.... 

ENLISTED    MEN   OF   COMPANY    "H. 


Name  and  Bank. 

Residence  . 

Date  of 
enlistment. 

Da'e  of 
muster. 

Remarks. 

first  Sergeant. 
John  W.  Hill  
Sergeanlt. 
Samuel  M.  Dunseth  
Augustine  Blacker  

William  Padgett  
John  F.  Sims  
Corporal* 
Stephen  C   Abbott  
Benj    F.  Wingurd  
Adam  Harper  
Highland  F.  Bewes  
Ephriam  J.  Scott  

Urbana  
Champaign  ... 

Middletown... 
Champaign  ... 
Piatt  Co  
Champaign  ... 

Middletown... 
Champaign  ... 

1862. 
Aug.  8"  

Aug.  8  
Aug.  8  

Ang.  8  
Aug.  8  

Aug.  8  
Aug.  8  
Aug.  8  
Ang.  8  
Aug.  8  

Aug.  8  ....'... 
Aug.  8  
Aug.  8  

Ang.  8  
Aug.  8  

1862. 
Sept.  3   

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept    3  ..  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept    3  

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  

Promoted  2d  Lieutenant  
Killed  at  Jonesboro,  Ga.,  Sept. 
1     '64  

Died  June  16.  1864;  wounds.... 
Discharged  March  20,  1863  

Disch.  Jan.  4.  '65,  as  Sergeant... 
M.  O.  May  13,  '65.  as  private... 
M.  O.June  9,  '65,  at  Serg't  
Captured  May  21,1864  

DiedinpiUon  hospital,  Atlanta, 
Ga.,Jnly  3,  1864. 
Must,  out  June  9,  '65,  as  Serg't. 
1  ied  Sept  22    1864  

James  B.  Ray  
Bernard  G.  Parks  
Pi  ivatet, 
Acree,  Joseph  W  

Promoted  Commissary  Serg't... 

Mnst'd  out  June  9,'65  as  Corp'l- 
Died  Feb  2  1863  

27 

i98 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I. 


Name  and  Rank. 

Residence. 

Date  of 
enlistment 

Date  of 
muster. 

Remarks. 

Privates. 
Blue,  John   W  

Champaign... 

Middletowu... 
Champaign  ... 

Middletown.  . 
Champaign  ... 
Middletown.  . 
(  hampaign  ... 

1862 
Aug  8     
'•     8     
"     8     
"    8     

'•    8     
"    8     
"    8     
"     8     
"     8     
"     8     
"     8     
"     8     

1862. 
oept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3    
Sept.  3   

Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept  3    
Sept.  3   

Dischargfd  Oct.  23,1802  
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

Died   in    Andersonville   i  ri-  >u 
Jan.  26,  1865.     No.  of  grave, 
12530. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  Ib65  

Discharged  Feb.  24,  '65;  digalil 
M  .  O.  July  1,  '65  ;  was  pris  
Mustered  out  June  9.  1865  
Disch.  on  or  about  Feb.  14.  63. 
M.  O.  June  9,  1865,  as  C  rp'l.... 
Discharged  July  29  1863 

Black,  Peter  
Brown,  James  

Baker,  John  

Burnett  f-eth  L  
Bond.Blackburu  
Carter,  John  

Cappis,  William  
Coou,  M.  H  

Crabtree,  Peter  
Curtis  Alvin  F  

Center  Elisha  W 

i 

Case,  Charles  

Vermilion  ... 
McDonough.. 
DeWitt  
Champaign  ... 
Middletown... 
Piatt  Co  
Champaign  ... 

Piatt  Co  
Piatt  Co  

"     S     
"     8     
1     8     
'     8     
'     8     
'     8     
'     8     
'     8     
"    8     
"    8     
"     8     

"     8     
"    8     

"     8 

Sept.  3   
Sept   3   
Sept.  3   
Sept   3   
Sept.  3    
Sept.  3  
Sept.3  
Sept.3  
Sept.3  
Sept.3  
Sept.3  

•sept.  3  
Sept.3  
Sept.3  
Sept.3  
Sept.3  

Mustered  out  Jure  9,  1865  
Transferred  to  Co  I  
Mustered  out  June  9,  18C5  
Discharged  Aug.  30.  1863  
Discharged  Jan.  22,  1863  
Discharged  Oct.  23  1862  

Cannon,  Jas  W  

Coon,  Thomas  
Coon.  Peter  

Campbell,  John  
Davidson,  H.  W  
Davis,  Wm.  I  

Deserted  Dec.  4,  18t>2  
M.  O.  June  9,  '65,  as  Corp'l  
Captured  Nov.  30,  1864  
Mustered  ont  June  9,  1865  
M.  O  June  9.  '65,  as  Corporal. 
Absent,  sick. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
See  Reciuits  Co.  E  
Mastered  out  June  s,  1865  
Discharged  Feb.  14,  1863  

Dickson,  Andrew  

Davis,  Edward  
Danforth,  Nelson  
Ensminger,  Saml  
Edwards.  H.  T  
England  Albert  

Champaign  ... 

"     8     

"     8 

Gulick,  James  P  
Gordon,  B  F  

Champaign... 
I'iattCo  
Champaign  ... 

"     8     
"     8     
"     8     

"     8    
"     8      
"    8     

"     8     
"     8     
"     8     
"    8     
"    8     
"     8     
"     8     
'     8     
'     8     
1    8     
'     8 

•iept  3  

Mustered  ont  Jiine  9,  1865  

Died  in    Andersonville  prison, 
Sept.  28,  1864.    No.  of  grave, 
9,962. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Killed  at  Kenesaw  July  1,  '64... 
Died  in   Andersonville  prison, 
Apr.  21,1864.     No.  of  grave, 
9,458. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
"     as  Corp. 

Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   

Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   

Sept.  3   
Sept   3   
Sept.  3    
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept    3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3 

Hard  R.  F  

Hadfleld,  Joseph  

i, 

Edgar  Co  
Champaign  ... 

Mfddletown... 
Champaign  ... 

Johnston,  Richard  
Knapp,  Thos.  J  

King,  GranvilloC  
King,  David  
King,  Isaiah  J  
Kesler,  Joseph  
Kaffer,  Peter  
Laughlin,  Samuel  

Discharged  Feb.  28,  '63  
Captured  near  Dnlliis,  Ga  
Died  Pec.  7.  1862  
Must'd  out  June  9,'65,  as  Serg't 
1    1st  Serg't. 

Means,  William  
Morris,  John  D  

Died  of  w'ds  rec'd  Sept.  22,  63. 

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Disch.  on  or  about  Feb  14,  '63. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Desened  Feb.  2,  1863  
Disch.  on  or  about  June  1,  '63... 
Discharged  Feb.  10.  '63  
Transferred  to  V.  R  C  
Discb.  Feb.  2,  '65;  disability.... 
Missing  at  Kenesaw,  Ga.,  bince 
June  27,  1864. 
Mustered  out  May  26,  1805  
M  0.  July  1.  '65  ;  was  prisoner. 
Killed  at  Kenesaw  June  27,  '64 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

Mallory  George  
Minnear,  Elias  

''hampaign... 

'     8     
1     8     

•     g 

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept    3 

McCall,  W  H.  II  

Champaign  ... 
Middletown  .. 
PiattCo  
Champaign  ... 

Vermilion  ... 
Champaign  .. 

1    8     
'     8     
«    8     
'     8     
'     8     
"    8     

"    8     
"     8     
"    8    
"     8     

Sept.    3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  S  
Sept.  3    
Sept.   3  
Sept.   3  

Sept.3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.  3  

McMahan,  W.  M  
Mahlone,  S.  E  
Manford,  John  

Purtle,  John  
Pitman,  Dubois  

Phillips,  James  
Polston,  Jacob  

Polston,  William  

THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I. 


I99 


Name  and  Rank. 

Residence. 

Date  of 
enlistment 

Date  of 
muster. 

Remarks. 

Privates. 
Robins  .n,  William  

PiattCo  
Champaign  ... 

1862 
Ang.  8  
Aug.  8  
Aug.  8  
Aug    8  
Aug.  8  
Aug   8  
Aug.  8  
Aug.  8    
Aug.  8  

1862. 
Sept.  3  
same  
same    
same   
same  
same  
same  
same  
same  

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
it                          .1 
"    as  Serg't 

Discharged  March  24,  1864  
Mustered  out  June  9.  1865  
Died  of  accidental  w'ds  in  '62... 

Smith,  Oliver  H  
Tryon,  Harvey  S  

Middletown  .. 
Champa'gn  .  . 

Waterman,   Henry  
Waterman,  Theodore- 
Wright,   George  
Wright,  William  

Weston   N  

Aug.  8    

Williams  Daniel  

Champaign  ... 

Aug.  8  

game  

Mustertd  out  June  9,1865  

Died  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  in 
1862. 
Trans,  to  Co.  H,  60th  111.  Inf... 

Hecruits. 
Hur.lin     Albert    G 

McCormick,  J.   H  

Chicago  

Oct.  8,   '64... 

Oct.  8,  '64... 

ENLISTED    MEN    OF   COMPANY    "I. 


((   T    » 


Name  and  Rank. 

Residence. 

-Date  of 
enlistment. 

Date  of 
muster. 

Remarks. 

First  Sergeant. 

Pilot  

1862. 
Aug.  12  

1362 
Sept    3 

Promoted  2d  Lieutenant  

Sergeantt. 
Alfred  Atwood  
Samuel  Hardi«ty  

"     15  
"    12  
"     12  

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept    3  

Discharged  Feb'.  9,  '65,  1st  i-'erg. 
Disch.  Mar.  19,  '63  ;  disability.. 

M 

"     12  

Sept.  3   

Ditd  at  Edgefield.Nov.  25,  '62.. 

Corporals. 
George  Young  
Levi  W.  Coughton  
Henry  Armentrout  
Bart»n   Snider  

"              "'.'". 

"    12  
"     12  
"     15  

"     12  

Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept   3   
Sept.  3  

Died,  Louisville,  Nov.  29,  '62... 
M.  0.  June  9,  '65,  as  piivate  
Disch.  Feb.  4,  '63;  disability  
M    0  June  9  '65  as  1st  Serg't 

,( 

"     12  

Thin.  Mackemson  

"              

"     12  
"     12  

Sept.  3  
Sept.   3  

Killed  at  Kenesaw  June  27  '64 

Daniel  I».  Cannon  
Musician. 
Curtis  H.  Tnuzey  
Milton  ('.  Cannon  
Wagoner. 
Daniel  B.  -anders  
Privates. 

"    :::::: 

"    12  

"     12  
"     12  

"     12  
"     12  

•<ept.   3  

Sept.   3  
Sept.  3  

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  

M.  0.  Junt-  9,  '65,  as  private  

Promoted  Principal  Musician... 
M.U.  June  9,  '65,  as  Corp'l  

Disch.  Oct.  24,  '62  ;  disability... 

Alton,  Preston  

- 

"     12  
"     12  

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  

Died  Bowling  Green,  Ky    Dec. 

Alexander,  W.  W  
Blevins,  Geo.  W  
Burd,  Wm    F  
Brown,  Jacob  
Burd,  Adrian  P  
Babb.  Gideon  
Briltingham,  A.  W  
Cosairt,  John  

Middle  Fork".'. 
Pilot  

"    12  .... 
"     12  
"     12  
"     12  
'     12  
•     12  
1     12  
'    12 

Sept.   3  
Sept.  3    
-iept.  3   
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3    
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3    
<(.  pt    3 

2,  '62. 
Disch.  Feb.  3,  '63;  disability.... 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
M.  O.  June  9,  '65,  as  Serg't  
M.  0.  June  17,  1865.  as  Corp'l  . 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Tr  to  Eog  Corps,  July  29,  '64.. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

Carmack,  John  

„' 

1     12  

gept    3   

Cannon,  John  T  
Dancer,  Klias  F  

Mid.lle  Fork- 

"     12   

Sept   3    
Sept.  3    

27,  '64. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Died  at  Nashville  Jan.  9,  1863... 

Dove,  Alirnm  C  
Durham,  Samuel  
Disert,  Joseph  
Dare  Philip  H  

Pilot  
Middle  Fork 

'•     12  
"    12  
"     12  
"     12  ...  . 

Sept.  3    
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  

Mustered  out  June  !»,  1865  
Disch.  July  18,  '63  ;  disability... 
Tr.  to  Eng.  Corps,  July  29,  '64.. 
Mustered  out  June  9  1865  

Elkius,  Stephen  
Gilliland.  Reason  
Hewitt    Eli  M  

Blount  
Middle  Fork.. 

"    12  
"     12  
"     12  

Sept.  3   
Sept   3   
Sent.  3   ... 

Died,  Harrodsbnrg,  Nov  11,'62 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Disch.  for  promotion,  Mar  23,'64 

200 


THE    I25TH    REGIMENT    I.  V.    I. 


Name  and  Hank. 

Resid-nce. 

Date  of 
enlistment. 

Date  of 
muster. 

Remarks. 

Privates. 
Hardisty,  N.  W  

Pilot  

Blonnt  
Pilot  

Middle  Fork. 
Pilot  
Middle  Fork.. 

Pilot  ".'.'.'. 

Miiidlofork".'.. 
Pilot  

Middleforic  ".'.. 
Pilot  
Blount  

Middle  Fork.. 

1862. 
Aug.  12  
Aug.  12  
Aug.   12  
Aug.   12  
Aug.  12  
Aug.  12  
Aug.  12  
Aug.  12  
Aug.  12  
Aug.  12  
Aug  12  
Aug.  12  
Aug.  12  
Aug.  12  
\ug.   12  
Aug.  12  
Aug.  12  
Aug.  12.  
Aug.  12.  
Aug.  12  
Aug.  12  
Aug.  12  
Ang.  12  
Aug.  12  
Aug.  12  
Aug.  12  
Aug.  12  
Aug.  12  
Aug.  12  
Aug,  !2  
Aug.  12  

Aug.  12  
Ang.  12  
Aug.  12  
Aug.  12  
Aug.  15  
Sppt.  3  

1*62. 
Sept.  3   
Sept   3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept   3  
Sept.  S    
Sept.   3  
Sept.   3  
<ept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.  3  
Sept    3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.  3  
Sept    3  
<ept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.   3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept    3 

Disch.  Mar.  7,  '65;  disability... 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Disch.  Feb.  25,  '63  ;  dwability... 
Disch.  May  6,  '63;  disability.... 
DUch.  June  19,  '63  ;  disability.. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

Hillary  Jas   P  

Hillary,   Francis  J  
Hardisty   A  8    

Hollett     Hiram  

Huuhts,  Isaac...  
Hoboy,  E  ieha  
Howard,  John  \V  
Herring,  John  
Hannahs,  Thomas  
Holcman,  I.  H  
Jones,  Harlin  
Kane,  Matthew  

n                      u 

"                       "        as  Serg. 
as  Corp'l 

u                      » 

"                      "              

Disch.  May  31,  '65  ;  disability... 
Tr.  to  luv.  Corps,  Juno  21,  '64.. 
Mngtered  out  June  9,  '65  

Liggett,  Nelson  
Lourance,  Whitacher.. 

Lane,  William  
Laflin,  Amos  W  
Masters,  Jacob  F.  S.T.. 
Miller,  Jas.  W  

"       us  Carp'l 

u                   u 

Disch.  Oct.  24,  '62;  di-ahility... 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Mustered  out  June  3d.  1865  
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

Tr.  to  Inv.  Corps,  Sept.  16,  '63.. 
Disch.  Nov.  10,  '63;  disability.. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1863  

Mauslar,  J.  W  
Miller.  John  
Madole,  William  „.. 

Osborn,  Uriah  
Parnell.John  W  
Pilkintoo,  Charles  
Ruiledge,  Isaac  S.  

Sept.   3  

Sept.   3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
same   
game  

Parole-d  pris.     Died,  Annapolis, 
Md.,  March  10,  1865  

Mtutered  out  June   9,  1865  
Died  at  Atlanta,  Sept.  24,  '61.... 
Discharged  Dec.  12,  1862  

Bees    Wm     M       

ii 

u 

Sanders  Levi  W    

1. 

Promoted  Chaplain  
Mustered  out  June  9  '65  

Smoot,  Nathan  J  
Taber,  Jesse  

Danville  
Middle  Fork.. 
Pilot  
Middle  Fork- 
Pilot  

Middle  Fork.. 

Died,  Gallatin,  Jan.  23,  1863  
Mustered  out  June  9,  '65  

Vansandt,  H.  G  
Waugh,  William  
West,  William  

Aug.  12  
Aug.  12. 

game   

Died  at  Louisville  Nov.  5,  1862.. 
Died,  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  Jan  . 
7,  '63. 
Died  at  Big  Shanty,  Ga.,  June 
29,  '64;  wounds. 
Mustered  out  May  20.  1865  
Died,  Danville,  Ky..  Nov.  1,  '62. 
Supposed  rtisch.  and  re-enlisted 
in  86th  Ind.  Vols. 
Died  at  Camp  McAfee  Church, 
Ga.,Feb.  6,  1864. 
Trans,  to  Co.  I,  6t)th  111.  Inf..... 
Absent,  sick,  at  M   O.  of  Reg't. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Trans,  to  Co.  I,  60th  III.  It,f..... 
Died  at  Nashville  Jan.  28,  '64... 
Disch.  Feb.  27,  '63;  disability... 
Mngt'd  out  July  1,'65  ;  was  pris. 
Died  Chattanooga.  July  15.  '64. 
Trans  to  Co.  I,  60th  III.  Inf..... 

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Disch   Feb.  20,  '65;  disability... 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

\ug   12  
Aug.  12..  

Ang.  12  
Aug.  12  
Ang.  12  

Dec.  15,  '63.. 
Dec.  15,  ,63.. 

game   
same  

same   
same   
game  

Dec.  15,  '63.. 
Dec.  15,  '63. 

Walker,  Andrew  

Waugh,  David  W  

u 

«        

Recruitt. 
Ballard,  Josiah  

Ballard,  Henry  

Cannon,  James  W  

Clark,  W.  W  

Middle  Fork.. 

Mar,  7,  '64..'.' 

Mar"  'iv'ei" 

French,  Louis  T  
Harper  B.  F  

Kirsh.John  G  

Kirkhart,  Michael  

Pine  Gra-s..... 
Middle  Fork- 
ratlin  

Quincy  
Pilot  .... 

Dec.  22.  ,63.. 
Dec.  15,  '63.. 
Dec.  29,  '63.. 

Feb.  23',  "'64.'. 

Dec.  22,'«3... 
Dec.  15  '63... 
Dec.  29,'63... 

Feb.'2.V64'." 

Moore.  .Tame!1,  
Snell,  Clark  B  
Tansey,  Verlin  G  
Watson.  Milton  

THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.    V.  I. 


2OI 


ENLISTED    MEN    OF    COMPANY    "K  .' 


Name  and  Rank.    . 

Residence. 

Date  of 
enlistment. 

Date  of 
muster. 

Itemaikis. 

Sergeants. 
Ezekiel  B.Timmon  

Catlin  

Aug.  13  

1862 
Sept.  3  

Ditcharged  July  17,  1863  

Dallas  

"     13 

PeterS.  Burk  
Isaac  N.  Adams  

Thomas  Guthrio  

Catlin  
Georgetown  .. 

Dallas  

"     13  
"     13  

"     13  

Sept.   3  
Sept    3  

Tr.  to  regular  army.  Dec.  l(i,'62 
Died,  Chattanooga,  Nov.  4,  '64 
wounds. 
Disch  July  13   186;} 

Corporals. 
James  M    Cook  
Tims.  L.  D  <uglas  

Georgetown  . 
Danville.  

"     13  
"     13  

Sept.  3    
Sept.  3    

M.  O.  June-  9,  '65,  as  1st  Serg't.. 

Wm.  >l.  Marity  
A  ..I.  Woolcot  
David  M.  Woolen  

T.  A.  Baker  

Indiauola  
Catlin  

Indianola  .... 
Catlin  

"     13  
13  
13  

13  
13  

Sept   3    
Sept.  3  
Sept.   3  

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  

Discharged  April  lo,  't>5  w'ds... 
Musti  red  out  June  9,  I8i  5  
Tr.  to  Inv    Corps,  Nov.  1,  '63. 
M.  0.  Apiil  13,  'ti5;  disability 
M.  O.  June  9,  'ti">,  as  Sergeant. 

Thus.  W     Blakeney  ... 
Musicians 
Eli  Shephard  
Saml.  R.  Tilton  
Privite*. 
Anderson.  Joseph  

Danville  
Catlin  

13  

13  
13  

13  

Sept.  3  

Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  

Sept.  3  

Serg't.  Promoted  Serg't  Major 

Tr.  to  Inv.  Corps,  Nov.  1,  '63.... 
M  listen  d  rut  June  9,  1865  

Arg  ..,  Wm  J  
Bell,  John  V  
Blakney,  Jan.  W  

Catliu  
Georgetown  .. 

13  
13  
13  

S«pt.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  

Killed  at  Keiiesaw  June  27,  '64. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865.  

Itoon    Wm    J   

it 

13  

Sept    3 

l)i  rh  M  -i  v  4.  1  At'1*  •  vif  1 

Barnarl.  John  
Brown,  John  
Baruett,  Th-mpion  
Crosby,  S.   J  '.  

Danville  
Vermilion  
DallHS  
Catlin  

13  
13  
13  
13  

Sept.  3    
sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept   3    

Mustered  out  Juue  9.  1865  
Kitd  at  Nashville  D<  c.  7,  '62.... 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Discharged  Oct.  17,  1«62  

Danville  

13  

Oole,  Commodore  P  
t'oiiover,  John   R  
Denton,  John  
Davidson,  John  S  

Dowers.  Washington... 

Elsby,  Nehemiah  
Evans,  Jes*e  A  

Catlin  
Pallas  
Georgetown  .. 
Danville  

Dallas  

Georgetown  .. 
Dallas  

13  
13  
13  
13  

13  

13  
13  
13  

Sept.  3    
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept   3    

.Sept.  3   

Sept.  3    
Sept.  3    
Sept.  3  

Tr.  to  reg  army,  D«c.  Hi,  1862.. 
Mustered  out  May  26,  1865  
Killed  at  Kenesaw  June  27,  '04 
Died,  Bowling  Gree.i,  Ky.,  Nov. 
20,  '62. 
Died   at  Chattanooga,  July  6, 
'64;  wounds 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  .... 

Killed  at  Keiiesaw  June  27,  '61 

i, 

13  

Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

Foster,  A.  M  

., 

13  

Sept.  3   

Discharged  Feb.  lo,  '64  ;  w'ds... 

Fielils  Thi  s  S  

13  

Sept.  3    

Mustered  out  June  9,1865  

Gibson   Philip  M  

13  

Sept.  3   

"                   "       us  Corp'l 

Gibson.   James  
Gnthiie  G«o  

Georgetown  .. 
Dallas  
Catliu 

13  
13  
13  

Sept.  3   
Sept   3   

M.  0.  July  1,  '65  ;  wa^  prisoner 
Mustered  out  June  9,  '65  

Dallas 

13  

Sept    3  

14                                                               11 

Henson,  W.  P  
Harrifon   W.   M  

Catlin  

13  
13  

Sept    3  
-iept    3  

Disch.  Nov.  5J9,  '62;  wounds  
Died  at  Gallatin  Jan.  13  '63... 

lloyle.  James  
Herald.  V  G  
Hi'divth    Alvin  

Catliu  
Dallas  

13  
13  

u  

Sept.   3  
Sept.   3  
Sept    3  

Died  at  Nashville  June  8,  '6:i... 
Mustered  out  June  9,  '65  

Holt  Wm    H  

,, 

13  

Sept    3  

11                      ii 

Jumps,  Theodore  
Jumps,  John  W  
Kiger,  Charles  

Georgetown  .. 
Danville  

13  
13  
13  

13  

Sept.   3  
Sept    3  
Sept    3  
Sept.  3  

Died,  Jeffersonville,  Oct.  4,  '64.. 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

Kelly,  Jas.  N  
Leach  Ge  >   T  

R..ckville  

13  
13  

Sept.   3  
Sept    3  

Disch.  Mar.  14,  '65;  wounds... 
Tr.  to  Vet.  Eng.  Corps  

Leach,   Henry  0  
McCartney,  Isaiah  
Martin,  Wm.  H  

McCorkle,  N.  M  

Catlin  
Georgetown  .. 

13  
13  
13  

1     13  

Sept.  "  
Sept   3   
Sept.   3  

Sept.  3  

Mustered  out  June  9.  '65  
Discharged  Oct.  18.  1862  
Died,  Chattanooga,  July  26,  '64  ; 
wounds. 
Trans,  to  I.  C.,  Nov.  1,  1863  

28 


202 


THE    I25TH    REGIMENT   I.  V.    I. 


Name  and  Kank       ,    Residence. 

Date  of 
enlistment. 

Date  of 
Muster." 

Remarks. 

Private*. 
Miller,  Andrew  

Danville  
Dallas  ...'...... 

nioom  

Georgetown  .. 
Dallas  

1862. 
Aug  13  
"     13  
•    13  
•    13  
•     13  
•     13  
•     13  

"     13  
"     13  
"     13  
13  
13  
13  
13  
13    
13  
13  
13  
13  
13  
13  
13  
13  
13  ...... 
13  
1H  
13  
13  
13  
13  
13  
13  

Mar"30,'64... 
Mar.  20,  '64. 
Feb.  23,  '64.. 
Dec.  29,  '63. 

Feb'."l9,"'6iV 
Dec.  29,  '63. 

1862 
Sept.  3   
•<ept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3  
*ept   3  
Sept.  3   
Sept  3    

Sept.  3   

Vusterid  out  June  9,1865  

Killed  at  Kent-saw  June  27,  'G4 
Mustered  out  June  9,  '(>>  

MuMillou,  J.  G  

McMiUen,  George  

Wills   Kichard  

Mills,  Adam  H  

Killed  at  Kenesaw  June  27,  '64 
Died,  Big  Shanty,  Ga.,  June  28, 
'64;  wounds. 
M.  O.  June  9,  18T>5,  as  Serg't.... 

Orr,  Wm  W  

Ogden,  William  
O'Bryant,  W.  W  

O'Brjant,  Asberry  
Pettis,  John  
Porter,  Henry  8  
Richardson,  K.  T  _ 

ireergetown... 
1  alias  
Catli.i   

Sept   3   
Sept.  3  
Sept   3   
Sept.  3    „... 
Sept.  3  ....... 
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3   
Sept.  3  
Sept.  3  

Mar!'3t"."'&i 
Mar.  29,  '64 
Feb.  23,  '64.. 
Dec.  29.  '63.. 

Feb.  19.  '64.. 
Dec.  29,  '63.. 

»               ii 

Deserted  Nov.  6,1862  
M.  O.  June  9,  1865.  HS  Corp'l  ... 
Discharged  Oct    27,  1862  
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  
Deserted  Aug.  7,  '64  

Ropers,  John  A  
Kam>ey,  Joseph  
Bitter   John     

Perryville    ... 
Indianola    ... 

Oatlin   ...'.'.'.!'.! 

3eorgetowu  .. 

[uilianulH...  ... 

Georgetown  .. 

Discharged  Oct.   18,18(52  
Mustered  out  June  9,  18t>5  
Died  at  Gallatin  Dec.  25,  1862... 
Mustered  out  June  9,  1865  

Tr.  to  V.  R.  C  ,  May  1,  18«4  !"!.". 
Mu«tere.l  out  June  9.  1865  
Discharged  Feb.  28,  1863  
M  O.  June  9,  '60,  a«  Oorp'l  
Tr.  to  Inv.  Corps  Nov  .1,  '63.... 
Discharged  Feb.  2"  1863  

Spry.J.  W  
Spicer,  William  

Shewman,  F.  N  
Stunkard,  W.   N  
Studley,  H  H  

Scott,  Thoi.  W  

Georgetown 
ratlin   
Dallas  
Catlio   
Indianola  

Thornton,  David  
Thomas.  W.  H  
White,  William  
Whitehead,  W.  M  

M.  O.  June  9,  1865.  as  Ser,*'t... 
Discharged  Oct.  23,  1862  
Mustered  out  June  9.  1865  

Discharged  Jan.  30  1863  ... 

White     Jas  B  

West    Benj    V  

Secmitt 
Bishop,  Austin  B  
Hinson,  Franklin  
Jenkins    Eli  

Georgetown  . 
Collier  
Oatlin   

Mustered  out  June  9.  1865  
Tr  to  Co  K  60th  III  Inf  .' 

Jenkins    W  F  

Springfield  ... 
Middle  Fork 
Dallas   
Danville  
ratlin   
Indianola    ... 

Trans,  to  Co.  K,  COth  111.  inf.... 
Deserted  At.til  —  ,  1863  
Tr.  to  Co.  K,  60th  111.  Inf.  

Died  at  Nashville  Nov.  27,  '62... 
Reduced  from  Commissary  Serg. 
at  his  own    request.     M.  O. 
June  9,  1865 
Trans,  to  Co.  K,  60th  III.  Inf.... 

McMnllon.W    91  
McNutt,  Joseph  
Nicholson,  John  
Richardson,  S.  F.  
Botroff,  Thomas  
Stewart,  H.  J  

Shenman,  R.  W  

Georgetown  . 

Feb.  19.  '64 

Feb.  19    '64. 

UNASSIGNED    RECRUITS. 


Name  and  Rank. 

Residence. 

Date  of 
enlistment. 

Date  of 
muster. 

Remarks 

Unaitignei  Recruits. 
Gray,  Joseph  

Middle  Fork.. 

1862. 
Dec   29,  '63.. 
Dec.  15,  '63.. 

1^62. 
Dec.  29.  '63.. 
Dec.  15,  '63.. 

Died  Cump  Butler,  Ftb  12, 

64. 

Glandon,  Sterling  

INTRODUCTORY. 

Believing  it  would  prove  interesting  and  profitable  to  all  the  old 
members  of  the  i25th,  we  have  concluded  to  append  the  official  re- 
ports of  the  brigade  since  the  beginning  of  the  Atlanta  campaign ; 
and  the  fact  that  they  were  made  by  the  only  surviving  field  officer 
of  the  regiment,  who,  as  lieutenant  colonel,  commanded  the  brigade 
through  more  than  ten  months  of  its  greatest  perils,  will  not,  we 
feel  very  sure,  detract  from  their  interest. 

*  By  the  opening  of  the  campaign,  the  regiment  and  brigade  were 
very  nearly  rid  of  their  weakly  men  and  inefficient  officers,  and 
were  well  prepared  *.o  engage  in  the  arduous  duties  before  them. 

Prior  to  the  spring  of  '64,  the  whole  brigade  was  largely  in  the 
school  of  preparation,  but  from  that  time  forward,  always  in  the  field 
of  labor  and  danger. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  official  reports  are  limited  to  the  re- 
cital of  acts  done  by  the  whole  body,  or  some  portion  of  it,  in  obe- 
dience to  orders,  or  the  general  plan  of  operations,  and  a  descrip- 
tion of  the  performance  of  such  acts,  but  the  commander  may  not, 
like  the  independent  historian,  indulge  in  generalties,  individual 
opinion  and  criticism,  or  extended  personal  mention.  This  differ- 
ence will  be  more  apparent  when  the  reader  compares  the  reports 
with  the  author's  accounts  of  the  same  subject  matter. 

With  this  introduction,  we  present  the  official  reports  of  our  most 
important  campaigns. 


BRIGADE  REPORT  FROM  LEE  AND  GORDON'S  MILLS 
TO  ATLANTA,  GA. 

Headquarters  3rd  Brigade,  2nd  Division,  i4th  A.  C., 
Atlanta,  Ga.,  Sept.  gth,  1364. 

Captain  :     Pursuant  to  directions  from  division  headquarters,  of 
date  the  6th  instant.  I  have  the  honor  to  report,  so  far  as  my  infor- 


204  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I. 

mation  extends  substantially,  the  operations  of  this  brigade  from 
the  3rd  day  of  May,  1864,  when  it  struck  tents  and  broke  camp  at 
Lee  and  Gordon's  mills,  until  its  arrival  at  Atlanta  on  the  4th  day 
of  the  present  month.  Being  the  fourth  brigade  commander  since 
the  campaign  began,  and  having  served  on  the  corps  staff  for  some 
time  before,  and  up  to,  the  27th  day  of  June  last,  I  am  compelled 
to  rely  largely  for  data,  upon  the  necessarily  confused  memoranda 
of  the  different  commanders  who  preceeded  me. 

On  the  3rd  day  of  May  last,  the  brigade,  comprising  the  22nd 
Ind.  Vet.  Vols.,  85th,  86th,  noth  and  i25th  Ills.  Vols.,  and  the 
52nd  Ohio  Vols.,  commanded  by  Col.  Dan.  McCook,  left  Lee  and 
Gordon's  mills  and  marched  to  Ringgold,  Ga.,  where,  toward  night, 
it  crossed  the  Chickamauga  river  and  joined  the  division  command- 
ed by  Brig.  Gen.  J.  C.  Davis,  and  bivouacked  until  the  morning  of 
the  5th  of  May,  when  it  marched  out  to  near  Catoosa  Springs  and 
encamped  until  the  morning  of  the  yth,  when  it  marched  beyond. 
Tunnel  Hill  about  two  miles,  part  of  the  time  under  heavy  fire  from 
the  enemy's  artillery.  On  the  morning  of  the  8th  of  May,  the  brig- 
ade marched  towards  and  confronted  the  enemy's  skirmishers  guard- 
ing the  entrance  to  Buzzard  Roost  Gap.  May  gth,  supported  the 
ist  brigade  skirmish  line.  May  loth,  the  brigade  lay  under  fire 
from  the  enemy's  sharpshooters  until  evening,  when  it  moved  to  the 
front,  and  relieved  the  ist  brigade,  with  the  52nd  Ohio  deployed  as 
skirmishers.  May  nth,  remained  on  the  line  until  dark,  at  which 
time  we  were  relieved  by  a  brigade  of  the  4th  corps,  and  moved  up 
the  valley  about  two  miles  and  bivouacked  for  the  night.  May  i3th. 
at  day  break  the  brigade  with  the  division  marched  toward  Resaca 
by  way  of  Snake  Creek  Gap,  reaching  the  mouth  of  the  Gap,  after 
a  tiresome  march,  at  about  8  o'clock  p.  m. ;  continued  the  march 
until  nearly  2  o'clock  a.  m.  next  day,  when  the  command  halted  un- 
til daylight,  took  breakfast  and  moved  beyond  the  line  of  intrench- 
ments  towards  Resaca,  where  it  rested  until  evening.  Took  up  po- 
sition at  night  in  rear  of  ist  division,  i4th  corps.  Moved  into  line 
next  day,  and  confronted  the  enemy  in  his  works  at  Resaca.  Re- 
mained thus  until  the  enemy  evacuated  that  place,  when  this  brig- 
ade with  the  division  was  ordered  to  Rome.  The  march  commenc- 
ed early,  the  3rd  brigade  in  rear,  with  the  i25th  Ills,  detailed  as 
guards  for  the  division  train  ;  went  into  camp  on  the  left  of  the  Rome 
road.  The  brigade  resumed  the  march  on  the  next  morning  at  day- 
light, following  the  2nd  brigade,  and  arrived  within  two  miles  of 
Rome  at  5  o'clock  p.  m.,  where  the  enemy  was  reported  to  be  in  his 
works  in  full  force.  Col.  McCook  immediately  disposed  the  brig- 
ade in  order  of  battle  as  follows :  the  22nd  Ind.  and  the  86th  Ills., 
as  front  line,  the  52nd  Ohio  and  85th  Ills.,  as  second  line,  with 
three  companies  from  the  22nd  Ind.  thrown  forward  as  skirmishers. 


THE    I25TH    REGIMENT   I.    V.    I.  205 

The  front  line  occupied  an  elevation  of  ground  known  as  Howe's 
Hill,  with  the  left  resting  near  Howe's  house.  The  lines  were  but 
just  formed,  when  the  enemy  made  a  vigorous  attack  upon  the  22nd 
Ind.,  throwing  it  into  some  confusion,  and  forcing  its  right  back 
about  sixty  yards,  where  it  rallied  behind  a  rail  fence.  A  part  of 
the  86th  Ills.,  in  the  mean  time,  was  pouring  a  well  directed  fire 
from  its  right,  into  the  enemies  advancing  lines.  This  had  the  ef- 
fect to  check  them  ;  at  the  same  time  the  52nd  Ohio  advanced  and 
relieved  the  22nd  Ind.  By  this  time  it  became  so  dark  that  but 
little  could  be  discovered  of  what  was  going  on,  but  by  continuous- 
ly advancing  the  skirmish  line,  it  was  soon  ascertained  that  the 
enemy  had  retreated  to  his  main  works.  To  be  prepared  for  an  at- 
tack in  the  morning,  a  light  line  of  works  was  constructed,  bufrwas 
not  needed,  for  during  the  night  the  enemy  evacuated  his  intrenched 
position,  and  moved  across  the  Ostenaula  river,  burning  the  bridges 
after  him.  On  the  morning  of  May  i8th,  the  85th  Ills,  crossed  on 
the  floating  debris  of  the  bridge,  and  occupied  the  city  of  Rome. 
On  the  following  day  the  entire  brigade  crossed  on  newly  construct- 
ed pontoons,  and  encamped  in  the  suburbs  of  the  town,  where  it 
remained  doing  various  duties  until  the  morning  of  the  24th  of  May, 
when  the  brigade,  with  the  division,  marched  toward  Dallas,  reach- 
ing the  latter  place  about  noon,  May  26th,  and  took  up  position 
about  one  half  mile  to  the  left  of  town,  where  if  remained  until  the 

next  morning,  when  it  moved  with  the  division  to  the  mouth  of 

Gap.  Here  the  brigade  was  placed  in  single  line,  with  the  i25th 
Ills,  deployed  as  skirmishers.  At  about  10  o'clock  on  the  night  of 
the  2yth  of  May,  the  enemy  attacked  the  skirmish  line  and  captured 
one  commissioned  officer  and  fourteen  enlisted  men,  when  a  count- 
er charge  was  made  which  resulted  in  the  capture  of  two  commis- 
sioned officers,  and  twenty  seven-enlisted  men  from  the  enemy.  The 
officers  and  men  of  the  i25th  Ills.,  on  this  spirited  occasion,  dis- 
played that  high  degree  of  coolness  and  bravery  so  essential  to  suc- 
cess. The  brigade  lay  in  this  position  for  several  days,  holding 
works.  June  ist  moved  toward  the  left,  and  relieved  a  brigade  of 
the  23rd  corps,  remaining  in  this  new  position  under  a  constant  fire 
from  the  enemy,  untif  June  4th,  when  it  moved  about  three  miles 
further  to  the  left,  and,  with  the  division,  rejoined  the  corps.  The 
brigade  performed  the  various  duties  imposed  upon  it  ;  sometimes 
skirmishing  with  the  enemy,  changing  position,  building  fortifica- 
tions, or  holding  those  built  by  others,  but  all  without  taking  any 
active  part  in  any  general  engagement,  until  on  the  morning  of  the 
27th  of  June,  when  it  was  disposed  in  order  of  battle  as  follows: 
85th  Ills,  deployed  as  skirmishers,  with  lines  of  battle  composed  of 
first,  the  i25th  Ills.;  second,  the  86th  Ills.;  third,  the  22nd  Ind.,  and 
fourth,  the  52nd  Ohio.  These  dispositions  were  made  in  an  open 


206  THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I. 

field,  little  more  than  half  a  mile  from  the  works  to  be  stormed. 
The  2nd  brigade  was  formed  on  the  right,  and  Gen.  Marker's  brig- 
ade of  the  4th  corps,  on  the  left.  At  a  few  moments  before  nine, 
the  command  "forward"  was  given  and  responded  to  by  the  brave 
men  of  the  brigade  with  a  will  and  determination  to  succeed  when 
success  is  possible.  The  movement  began  in  quick,  and  continued 
in  this  time  for  near  one  third  the  distance,  when  the  step  was 
changed  to  double-quick.  The  lines  moved  with  marked  precision, 
until  they  reached  the  foot  of  an  abrupt  hill  where  they  encountered 
a  marshy  creek  lined  on  either  side  with  shrubs  and  thickly  matted 
vines.  The  command  relieved  itself  as  rapidly  and  orderly  as  pos- 
sible from  this  confusion,  and  turning  its  face  towards  the  enemy, 
rushed  forward  across  an  open  field  extending  to  within  fifteen  rods 
of  the  point  of  attack.  Here  it  entered  a  skirt  of  light  timber,  and 
from  this  point  also  commenced  an  ascent  of  the  ground.  On,  and 
up  the  brave  men  rushed  with  their  gallant  leader  at  their  head,  un- 
til some  of  them  reached  the  base  of  the  enemy's  parapet.  Nothing 
daunted  they  struggled  to  scale  the  works.  In  their  efforts  to  do 
this,  some  were  knocked  down  with  stones  and  clubs  hurled  at  them 
by  the  enemy.  Here  the  gallant  McCook  fell,  mortally  wounded, 
while  present  with,  and  cheering  his  men  on.  Shot  and  stoned  down 
completely  exhausted  by  the  length  and  impetuosity  of  the  charge, 
the  brave  men  reformed  their  lines  a  few  steps  in  the  rear,  and  par- 
tially under  the  crest  of  the  hill.  While  this  was  being  done,  Col. 
O.  G.  Harmon,  of  the  1 25th  Ills.,  left  the  command  of  the  regi- 
ment to  Maj.  J.  B.  Lee,  and  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  the  brig- 
ade. But  hardly  did  he  enjoy  this  new  command  five  minutes, 
when  a  musket  shot  from  the  enemy  pierced  his  heart,  and  in  a  few 
moments  his  remains  were  borne  from  the  field.  Col.  C.  J.  Dilworth 
then  assumed  command,  and  after  adjusting  his  lines  to  his  satisfac- 
tion, he  ordered  works  to  be  constructed,  the  front  line  of  which  did 
not  exceed  sixty  yards  from  the  enemy's  strong  line  of  works. 

The  loss  to  the  brigade  in  this  bloody  encounter  was  four  hundred 
and  ten,  nearly  all  of  which  occurred  within  the  short  space  of 
twenty  minutes.  These  casualties  fell  heaviest  upon  the  1251!!  Illi- 
nois and  52d  Ohio.  By  three  o'clock  p.  m.  trlt  men  were  sheltered 
by  their  new  lines  of  works  and  were  confronting  the  enemy  as 
sharp-shooters.  At  four  o'clock  of  the  same  day,  upon  my  request 
to  be  relieved  from  duty  at  corps  headquarters,  I  returned  to  and 
took  command  of  my  regiment.  From  this  point  forward  in  my  re- 
port I  am  chiefly  reliant  for  information  on  the  notes  and  memor- 
anda of  Col.  Dilworth.  After  the  confusion  of  the  battle  was  over, 
the  brigade  was  disposed  thus  :  The  85th  Illinois  on  the  right,  con- 
necting with  the  2d  brigade ;  the  22d  on  the  left,  connecting  with 
Gen.  Harker's  brigade  ;  the  i25th  Illinois  in  the  center,  and  the  86th 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I.  207 

Illinois  aYid  52d  Ohio  in  reserve.  The  lines  remained  the  same  un- 
til the  morning  of  the  28th,  when  the  12510  Illinois  was  relieved  by 
the  86th  Illinois,  that  in  turn  was  relieved  on  the  morning  of  the 
29th  by  the  52d  Ohio.  On  this  day  a  cessation  of  hostilities  was 
effected,  and  arrangements  made,  under  flag  of  truce,  by  which  the 
dead  between  the  lines  were  removed  or  buried.  On  the  3oth  under 
my  personal  supervision  a  new  line  of  works  was  constructed  within 
from  five  to  seven  rods  of  the  enemy's  strong  works.  From  this 
position  our  sharp-shooters  did  excellent  service,  many  of  them  us- 
ing an  invention  called  the  "  refracting  sight,"  the  testimony  in 
favor  of  the  use  of  which  at  short  range  was  abundant.  The  bri- 
gade did  duty  here  until  the  morning  of  the  jrd  of  July.  The  enemy 
having  again  abandoned  his  works,  we  marched  through  Marietta, 
thence  in  a  south-west  course  about  five  miles  toward  Atlanta.  We 
halted  and  encamped  here  for  two  nights.  On  the  morning  of  the 
5th  of  July,  we  advanced  again  about  five  miles  towards  the  railroad 
bridge  over  the  Chattahoochie  river.  Upon  our  arrival  within  about 
three  miles  of  the  bridge,  we  came  up  with  the  enemy's  skirmishers. 
The  3rd  brigade  was  put  in  position  in  a  heavy  wood,  connecting  on 
the  left  with  the  2d  brigade.  As  soon  as  the  lines  were  formed,  I 
was  ordered  forward  with  the  i25th  as  skirmishers.  The  line  was  at 
once  established  and  waited  for  support  on  the  right,  which  was  late 
arriving.  About  five  o'clock,  all  things  being  ready,  the  line  advanc- 
ed at  the  double  quick  across  an  open  field,  and  charged  the  enemies' 
skirmishers  behind  works  at  the  verge  of  the  woods  on  the  opposite 
side.  Routing  them  from  these,  we  drove  them  in  confusion  to 
their  main  line  of  fortifications,  our  own  line  pursuing  to  within  less 
than  three  hundred  yards.  The  enemy  made  three  unsuccessful  at- 
tempts to  drive  our  line.  back.  As  soon  as  it  was  dark  the  86th  Illi- 
nois relieved  the  skirmish  line,  and  by  morning  were  well  entrenched. 
The  other  regiments  of  the  brigade  moved  forward  to  the  road  and 
threw  up  works.  The  command  remained  in  this  position,  each 
regiment  in  its  turn  doing  picket  duty  until  the  morning  of  the  roth 
of  July,  when  a  little  before  daylight  the  bridge  over  the  Chattahoo- 
chie river  was  discovered  to  be  on  fire,  and  no  enemy  in  our  front. 
Col.  Dilworth  was  ordered  to  made  a  reconnoisance  with  the  86th 
Illinios,  and  accompanied  it  in  person  as  far  as  the  river,  meeting 
with  no  oppositian,  when  he  returned  with  all  but  two  companies, 
which  he  left  at  the  river  as  pickets.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  same 
day  the  brigade  moved  down  to  the  Atlanta  road  and  went  into 
camp  on  the  right  and  within  one  mile  of  the  railroad  bridge,  in 
which  position  we  remained  doing  picket  and  guard  duty  until  the 
morning  of  the  i8th,  on  which  day  we  crossed  the  Chattahoochie 
river  on  a  pontoon  bridge  at  Paces'  Ferry,  and  about  five  miles 
above  the  railroad  bridge.  On  the  same  day  we  crossed  Nancy's 


208  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 

creek,  and  advanced  skirmishers  from  the  22d  Indiana  as  far  as 
Peach  Tree  creek  near  He-well's  mill.  The  brigade  bivouacked  for 
the  night  on  the  Atlanta  and  Pace's  Ferry  road. 

As  the  i Qth  of  July  was  an  eventful  day  in  the  history  of  this  bri- 
gade, I  choose  to  incorporate  in  this  report  the  minutes  of  its  opera- 
tions made  by  Col.  Dilworth  at  the  time  : 

"  This  morning  I  was  ordered  to  form  my  lines  in  rear  of  skirmish 
line  and  push  across  the  Peach  Tree  creek.  This  was  done  by  plac- 
ing the  52d  Ohio  in  advance,  crossing  the  creek  on  a  log,  and  mov- 
ing out  across  the  field  and  over  the. hill.  Here  we  found  an  entire 
brigade  of  rebels  and  a  portion  of  another.  The  balance  of  our 
brigade  crossed,  ist,  85th  Illinois  and  went  to  the  assistance  of  the 
52d  Ohio  on  the  left,  and  found  a  heavy  force.  Next  came  the  12 5th 
Illinois  and  moved  forward  to  the  crest  of  the  hill.  Next  the  86th 
Illinois  and  formed  on  the  left.  The  22d  Indiana  at  the  same  time 
commenced  crossing  on  our  right  and  connected  with  the  52d  Ohio 
skirmishers  on  the  right.  Word  was  sent  to  Gen.  Davis  for  assist- 
ance, at  the  same  time  information  was  received  that  the  enemy  were 
drifting  to  the  right.  Col.  Langley,  of  the  i25th  Illinois,  was  or- 
dered to  form  on  the  right,  which  he  did  at  a  double-quick,  and  just 
reached  the  top  of  the  hill  as  the  enemy  were  ready  to  attack,  and 
after  a  fire  from  the  i25th  the  rebels  were  driven  back  from  the 
right.  That  night  entrenchments  were  thrown  up,  and  the  men  re- 
mained on  the  ground  getting  in  the  wounded." 

The  brigade  lost  in  this  day's  operations  two  hundred  and  forty- 
five  men,  killed,  wounded  and  missing.  These  losses  fell  heaviest 
on  the  52d  Ohio,  22d  Indiana  and  85th  Illinois.  The  morning  of 
July  2oth  found  the  brigade  well  fortified,  and  about  noon  two  sec- 
tions of  Capt.  Gardner's  battery  were  put  in  position,  which  with 
the  aid  of  sharp-shooters  from  this  and  the  2d  brigade,  succeeded  in 
driving  the  enemy  from  his  works.  On  the  same  day  the  noth  Illi- 
nois, Lieut.  Col.  Topping  commanding,  reported  for  duty  and  was 
put  in  line  on  the  right.  July  2ist  Col.  Dilworth  was  ordered  to 
make  a  reconnoisance  with  one  regiment.  He  ordered  out  the 
1 25th  Illinois  and  connected  with  Col.  Mitchell's  brigade  on  the  left 
and  Gen.  Morgan's  on  the  right ;  moved  too  far  to  the  right  ;  found 
rebels  near  Moore's  house  on  the  Marietta  and  Atlanta  road  and  re- 
turned to  camp.  July  22d — No  enemy  in  our  immediate  front. 
Moved  towards  Atlanta  to  within  two  and  a  half  miles  of  the  city. 
Heavy  cannonading  to  our  front  and  left.  Went  into  camp  at  night 
in  reserve.  July  24th — Relieved  a  regiment  of  Gen.  Beard's  divis- 
ion with  the  1 25th  Illinois.  Remained  in  this  position  with  a  slight 
change  of  camp  until  the  morning  of  the  28th  of  July.  One  regi- 
ment on  out-post  duty  daily.  July  28th — In  connection  with  the 
division  made  a  reconnoisance  to  Turner's  Ferry,  intending  to  strike 


THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.    1.  2OQ 

the  enemy  in  left  flank,  but  being  misled  by  an  inefficient  guide,  the 
division  took  no  part  in  the  engagement  of  this  day.  After  a  long 
meandering  and  weary  march,  we  returned  late  at  night  to  near  our 
old  camp.  From  this  date  forward  our  duties  were  various.  We 
built  several  lines  of  works,  did  picket  duty,  and  changed  position 
towards  the  right  and  front  about  three  miles,  and  went  into  posi- 
tion in  the  evening,  connecting  with  Gen.  Baird  on  the  left,  125111 
Ills,  on  the  left,  and  the  22nd  Ind.  on  the  right  of  the  front  line, 
with  the  85th  Ills,  on  picket.  On  the  following  morning  the  picket 
line  moved  nearly  three  quarters  of  a  mile  to  the  front,  and  took 
fifteen  prisoners  with  no  loss  to  us.  The  main  line  moved  forward, 
still  keeping  up  the  connection  with  General  Baird  on  the  left,  and 
also  connecting  with  Col.  Mitchell  on  the  right.  Four  companies  of 
the  52nd  Ohio  relieved  the  85th  Ills,  pickets.  July  6th  ;  brigade  in 
same  position,  the  enemy  almost  constantly  shelling  our  lines.  At 
night  seventy-five  men  from  the  noth  Ills,  relieved  the  52nd  Ohio 
on  picket.  I  quote  below,  substantially,  Col.  Dilworth's  minutes  of 
the  operations  of  the  brigade  on  the  yth  of  July: 

"  Received  orders  about  ten  o'clock,  that  the  division  was  to 
swing  to  the  left,  and  that  the  movement  would  begin  on  the  left. 
About  noon  I  went  to  the  lines  and  saw  General  Baird,  who  said  he 
could  not  advance  until  evening.  As  soon  as  he  had  gone  I  received 
orders  that  Gen.  Morgan  had  commenced  the  movement  on  the 
right,  and  for  me  to  conform  my  movements  to  Mitchell's.  I  then 
went  to  the  right,  and  found  Col.  Mitchell  had  advanced.  My  skir- 
mish line  was  advanced,  and  the  i25th  Ills,  was  ordered  forward, 
the  52nd  Ohio  was  ordered  up  also.  The  22nd  Ind.  advanced  and 
connected  with  Col.  Mitchell  on  the  right  and  facing  north-east.  At 
night  the  86th  relieved  the  noth  Ills,  on  picket." 

In  gaining  this  new  and  important  position,  the  brigade  was  ex- 
posed to  a  galling  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery  from  the  enemy's 
lines,  and  with  but  little  chance  to  us  to  return,  successfully,  the 
fire.  The  brigade  took  possession  of,  and  extended  its  lines  across, 
the  Sand  Town  road,  and  as  speedily  as  possible  erected  strong  for- 
tifications. The  loss  to  the  brigade  in  this  day's  operations,  was 
forty-two  officers  and  men  killed  and  wounded.  Nothing  of  further 
importance  than  frequent  changes  of  camp,  and  position  in  line, 
and  picket  duty,  occurred  until  August  2oth,  on  which  day  the  brig- 
ade started  at  day  break  and  marched  to  the  rear  lines  of  works  of 
the  23rd  corps,  where  we  lay  in  close  column  for  two  or  three  hours, 
when  orders  came  to  move  out.  The  whole  division  moved  toward 
the  right  of  our  lines,  with  this  brigade  in  advance.  We  marched 
rapidly  to  the  line  of  the  West  Point  rail  road  at  Red  Oaks  ;  tore 
up  track,  and  cut  the  telegraph  wires  in  sight  of  a  large  force  of 
rebel  cavalry.  Returned  to  camp  at  night  after  making  a  march  of 
29 


210  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.    V.  I. 

22  miles,  most  of  the  time  in  heavy  rain  and  mud.  From  this  time 
forth,  the  brigade  performed  its  usual  duties  until  August  26th, 
when  we  broke  up  camp  and  marched  out  with  the  division  to  con- 
tribute our  remaining  efforts  to  turn  the  enemy's  left,  and  destroy 
the  Macon  rail  road,  the  last  and  only  line  of  transit  for  subsistance 
to  his  army  at  Atlanta.  By  the  last  of  August  it  was  very  generally 
conceded  that  the  enemy  would  tender  us  battle,  as  usual,  on  his 
choice  of  ground,  and  within  his  strong  fortifications.  On  this  last 
named  day,  we  marched  to  an  encampment  for  the  night  near  Tur- 
tle Swamp,  on  the  left  of  the  Atlanta  and  Jonesboro  road.  On  the 
following  morning,  early,  we  moved  across  to,  and  down,  the  Rough 
and  Ready  and  Jonesboro  road  toward  the  latter  named  place,  to  a 
point  about  one  half  mile  south  of  Flint  river.  Here  the  brigade 
moved  to  the  left  in  an  open  field,  and  formed  in  order  of  battle  as 
follows:  First  line,  22nd  Ind.  on  the  right,  i25th  Ills,  in  the  center, 
and  the  5 2nd  Ohio  on  the  left,  except  three  companies  of  the  52nd 
Ohio,  which  were  deployed  as  skirmishers ;  the  second  line  com- 
prised the  85th,  86th  and  noth  Ills.  About  2  o'clock  p.  m.,  the 
brigade  moved  by  the  right  flank  across  a  difficult  slough,  and  re- 
formed its  lines  on  the  crest  of  a  hill  beyond,  and  under  a  heavy 
fire  from  the  enemy's  artillery.  From  this  point  we  discovered  that 
the  enemy  were  in  strong  force  and  well  intrenched  along  the  line 
of  the  Macon  railroad.  At  about  3  o'clock  p.  m.,  our  line  advanc- 
ed through  a  thick  skirt  of  woods  to  an  open  cornfield  beyond, 
swinging  gradually  to  the  right  as  it  advanced  down  the  slope  be- 
yond, until  our  course  was  nearly  south.  We  moved  to  within  one 
fourth  of  a  mile  of  the  enemy's  line  of  works,  and  engaged  his  skir- 
mishers with  our  own,  while  the  main  line  was  struggling  to  cross  a 
swamp  at  the  foot  of  the  slope.  As  soon  as  a  crossing  was  effected 
the  enemy's  skirmishers  were  vigorously  attacked  and  driven  to  their 
main  works.  In  this  valley  the  first  line  built  temporary  works 
which  it  held  but  a  few  minutes,  when  it  again  moved  forward.  A 
part  of  the  52nd  Ohio,  charging  with  the  2nd  brigade,  aided  in  tak- 
ing a  rebel  battery  in  their  front.  The  2and  Ind.  and  i25th  Ills, 
advanced  in  quick  time  to  the  crest  of  the  hill,  where  they  encoun- 
tered a  line  of  rebels  concealed  among  the  standing  corn.  These 
two  regiments  became  at  once  hotly  engaged.  The  contest  for  a 
few  moments  appeared  doubtful,  and  might  finally  have  turned  in 
favor  of  the  enemy,  but  for  the  success  of  the  2nd  brigade  on  our 
left.  As  soon  as  this  success  was  known,  not  one  moment  was  lost 
by  the  22nd  Ind.  and  125111  Ills,  in  charging  the  enemy's  line,  which 
finally  yielded  and  broke,  the  men  running  in  confusion  to  their  in- 
trenchments.  but  just  in  time  to  find  themselves  our  prisoners.  After 
driving  the  enemy  back  some  six  or  seven  hundred  yards  to  their 
second  line  of  works  on  the  rail  road,  and  the  woods  to  the  west  of 


THE    I25TH    REGIMENT   I.    V.    I.  211 

the  rail  road,  our  lines  were  about  being  reformed,  when  Col.  Dil- 
worth,  commanding  the  brigade,  received  a  severe  wound,  and  was 
carried  off  the  field.  As  soon  as  notified  of  this  fact,  I  assumed 
command,  and  as  rapidly  as  possible  reformed  my  somewhat  broken 
lines.  Going  a  few  rods  to  the  left  and  rear,  I  met  Captain  Swift, 
brigade  inspector,  coming  forward  with  the  85th  Ills,  from  the  sec- 
ond line.  This  I  put  to  work  to  turn  the  rebel  fortifications,  and 
make  them  available  to  us  in  the  event  of  a  counter  assault.  Meet- 
ing with  other  members  of  the  brigade  staff,  I  directed  them  to  bring 
forward  the  86th  and  noth  Ills,  as  rapidly  as  possible,  and  hold 
them  in  readiness  for  further  orders.  In  the  mean  time  I  drew  from 
their  former  positions,  the  i25th  Ills,  and  22nd  Ind.,  to  give  them 
some  rest.  At  this  juncture  Col.  Mitchell  represented  to  me,  that 
the  enemy  were  massing  in  his  front  with  a  view  to  an  attack,  and 
asked  me  to  send  him  some  assistance.  Knowing  the  importance 
of  holding  the  hill  we  jointly  occupied,  I  immediately  sent  him  five 
companies  from  the  86th  Ills.,  and  seven  from  the  52nd  Ohio.  In 
a  few  minutes  the  other  battalion  of  the  86th  Ills.,  also  went  to  his 
assistance.  This  force  remained  with  Col.  Mitchell  about  one  hour, 
and  I  depend  on  him  to  do  them  justice  in  his  report 

Between  the  right  of  the  2nd  brigade  and  the  left  of  the  15th 
corps,  was  a  gap  in  the  lines  about  one  half  mile  wide.  The  threat- 
ening demonstrations  of  the  enemy  in  front  of  this  gap,  showed  the 
importance  he  attached  to  it,  and  I  determined  to  throw  all  my 
available  force  into,  and  as  far  as  possible  close,  it  up.  I  accord- 
ingly moved  the  i25th  Ills,  to  the  right  and  front,  as  far  as  the  crest 
of  the  hill,  putting  it  nearly  in  the  same  position  it  occupied  while 
fighting  half  an  hour  before.  I  then  moved  the  85th  Ills,  to  the 
right,  and  the  noth  Ills,  to  the  left  of  the  i25th,  and  directed  them 
to  put  out  as  many  sharp  shooters  as  could  be  made  available,  to 
annoy  and  keep  back  the  enemies'  skirmishers,  while  the  main  line 
was  ordered  to  construct  works.  The  firing  was  kept  up  until  dark. 
Several  times  the  enemy  attempted  to  advance,  but  were  driven 
back  to  their  works  by  the  unerring  aim  of  our  guns.  On  the  re- 
turn of  the  86th  Ills.,  and  the  52nd  Ohio,  from  the  assistance  of  the 
2nd  brigade,  I  put  the  first  in  position  on  the  right,  with  the  right 
well  refused.  The  52nd  Ohio  and  22nd  Ind. were  placed  in  reserve. 
Each  regiment  furnished  pickets  for  its  front,  the  entire  picket  line 
being  under  the  especial  charge  of  Captain  Burkhalter,  brigade  pro- 
vost marshal.  These  dispositions,  in  my  opinion,  rendered  our  po- 
sition perfectly  secure.  At  night  the  enemy  abandoned  his  works, 
leaving  his  dead  unburied,  and  wounded  uncared  for.  Our  loss  in 
this  day's  fight  was  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  killed  and  wounded. 
The  loss  fell  heaviest  on  the  22nd  Ind.  and  i25th  Ills. 

We  advanced  about  10  o'clock  to  Jonesboro.  went   into  position 


212  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 

on  the  left  of  the  rail  road  and  town,  where  we  remained  until 
late  in  the  day  of  Sept.  3rd,  when  I  received  orders  from  Major 
Gen.  Davis,  commanding  the  corps,  to  remove  the  brigade  to  At- 
lanta on  the  following  day,  to  guard  prisoners  of  war,  and  as  escort 
to  corps  hospital  trains.  Arrived  at  this  place  on  the  afternoon  of 
Sept  4th,  with  1674  prisoners,  and  trains.  Reported  pursuant  to 
orders,  to  Maj.  Gen.  Slocum,  and  went  into  camp  on  the  west  side 
of  town,  where  the  troops  have  remained  doing  no  duty  since. 

In  this  review  of  the  history  of  the  third  brigade  during  the  late 
campaign,  I  have  confined  myself  thus  far,  as  nearly  as  possible,  to 
a  simple  recitation  of  facts  and  circumstances;  having  been  ab- 
sent from  the  brigade  a  part  of  the  time,  and  afterwards  only  with 
one  of  its  regiments  until  the  late  fight  at  Jonesboro.  Special  men- 
tion of  the  conduct  of  many  brave  officers  and  soldiers,  would,  per- 
haps, meet  with  little  favor  from  my  feeble  pen,  even  of  those  who 
have  distinguished  themselves  by  their  heroic  and  daring  behavior 
on  every  battle  field.  So  far  as  I  can  learn,  on  the  march,  and  in 
every  engagement,  they  all  did  their  entire  duty,  and  the  appalling 
casualty  list,  show  the  sanguinary  character  of  the  many  conflcts  in 
which  these  troops  have  taken  part.  The  losses  of  the  brigade  foot 
up,  since  the  3rd  day  of  May  last,  the  enormous  sum  of  ONE 
THOUSAND  AND  EIGHTY-TWO,  killed,  wounded  and  missing,  being  lit- 
tle less  than  the  number  now  present  in  the  ranks  for  duty.  The 
brigade  met  with  its  heaviest  loss  in  the  assault  on  the  enemy's 
works  at  Kennesaw  Mountain,  June  27th.  The  number  has  been 
stated  previously.  There  every  regiment  was  engaged,  and  where 
the  contest  was  hottest,  the  front  line  could  be  claimed  by  no  par- 
ticular regiment,  but  was  made  up  of  the  bravest  men  from  all.  At 
Peach  Tree  creek,  July  i4th,  the  52nd  Ohio,  commanded  by  Lieut. 
Col.  Clancey,  with  skirmishers,  under  command  of  Major  Holmes, 
did  nobly  in  clearing  the  heights  beyond  the  creek,  thus  enabling 
the  remainder  of  the  brigade  to  cross  and  form  line  free  from  the 
enemies  fire.  In  the  same  engagement,  the  85th  Ills.,  commanded 
by  Major  Rider,  advanced  to  within  a  few  yards  of  the  enemy's 
main  line,  but  could  not  hold  its  position.  The  loss  to  the  regi- 
ment was  heavy,  but  it  behaved  manfully.  The  22nd  Ind.,  com- 
manded, in  the  early  paYt  of  the  engagement,  by  Maj.  Shea,  stood, 
unsupported,  the  brunt  of  a  heavy  assault,  and  yielded  only  as  it 
was  overpowered  by  superior  numbers.  Maj.  Shea  was  wounded, 
and  the  command  fell  to  Captain  Snodgrass,  under  whose  charge  it 
has  been  most  of  the  time  since.  The  conduct  of  this  officer,  and 
his  command,  were  all  that  could  be  asked  in  the  late  battle  of 
Jonesboro,  and  as  truly  may  I  say  the  same  of  Maj.  Holmes,  who 
commanded  the  52nd  Ohio  in  the  same  engagement,  until  wounded 
and  disabled,  when  the  command  devolved  upon  Capt.  Rothacker. 


THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I.  213 

Also  the  85th  Ills.,  commanded  by  Maj.  Rider  until  disabled,  when 
the  charge  of  the  regiment  fell  to  Captain  Griffith.  The  86th  Ills, 
commanded  part  of  the  time  by  Lt.  Col.  Fahnestock,  and  part  by 
Maj.  Thomas.  The  noth  Ills.,  commanded  throughout  by  Lieut. 
Col.  Topping,  and  also  the  T25th  Ills.,  commanded,  through  the  lat- 
ter part  of  the  engagement,  by  Captain  Geo.  W.  Cook.  I  wish  to 
bear  testimony  to  the  general  good  conduct  and  bravery  of  the  sev- 
eral officers  above  named,  and  their  respective  commands.  I  ob- 
served several  striking  instances  of  noble  courage  and  true  bravery 
among  subordinate  officers  and  enlisted  men,  but  want  of  space 
forbids  that  I  should  mention  them  here.  The  reports  from  the 
commanders  of  regiments  must  suffice.  Captains  Anderson,  Swift 
and  Burkhalter,  and  Lieut.  Tanner,  of  the  brigade  staff,  are  all 
known  to  the  brigade,  and  appreciated  for  their  coolness  and  bravery 
in  action.  My  heartfelt  thanks  are  due  to  the  three  last  named  for 
the  eminent  assistance  they  so  cheerfully  rendered  me  during  the 
engagement  on  the  ist  instant.  Captain  Anderson,  A.  A.  A.  Gen., 
while  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties,  received  a.  severe  wound  just 
before  the  command  of  the  brigade  fell  to  my  charge,  thus  depriv- 
ing me  of  his  valuable  services. 

Our  honored  dead,  of  whom  from  this  brigade  there  are  many 
have  all  received  a  soldier's  burial,  and  their  scattered  graves  mark 
the  meandering  course  of  our  march  all  the  way  from  Resaca  to 
Atlanta. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Captain, 

Very  respectfully,  your  obdt.  servant. 
(Signed)  JAS.  W.  LANGLEY, 

Lt.  Col.  r  25th  Ills,  comd'g  brigade. 
To 

Theodore  Wiseman, 

Capt.  and  A.  A.    Genl,  2nd  Div.,  i4th  A.  C. 


BRIGADE  REPORT    FROM    ATLANTA,    FLORENCE,  TO 

SAVANNAH,  GA. 
Headquarters  3rd  Brigade,  2nd  Division, 

r  4th  Army  Corps,  Army  of  Georgia,  near 

Savannah,  Ga.,  January  3rd,   1865. 

CAPTAIN:     Pursuant  to  orders,  of  date  Dec.  28th,    1864,  I  have 

the  honor  to  report  substantially  the  operations  of  my  command, 

from  the  fall  of  Atlanta,  up  to,  and  including  the,  fall  of  Savannah. 

On  the  fourth  day  of  September  last,  my  command,   comprising 


214  THE    I25TH    REGIMENT   I.  V.    I. 

the  851)1,  86th  and  i25th  His.,  the  5 2nd  Ohio,  the  22nd  Ind.,  and 
three  companies  of  the  noth  Ills.  Vols  ,  moved  from  Jonesboro  in 
charge  of  the  i4th  army  corps  hospital  trains,  and  about  seventeen 
hundred  prisoners  of  war,  to  Atlanta,  reaching  the  latter  place  about 
sundown.  After  reporting  to  Maj.  Gen.  Slocum,  then  commanding 
at  Atlanta,  and  turning  over  my  prisoners,  by  his  orders  I  went  into 
camp  to  the  left  of  the  White  Hall  road,  just  beyond  the  suburbs  of 
the  city,  where  I  remained  until  the  2gth  day  of  September,  when  1 
received  orders  to  move  to  Chattanooga  by  cars  as  rapidly  as  possi- 
ble. At  about  9  o'clock  p.  m.,  I  got  the  brigade  on  board  a  train 
of  cars  going  north,  and  arrived  at  Chattanooga  Oct.  ist,  at  3  o'clock 
p.  m.  General  Morgan  having  previously  gone  to  Huntsville,  Ala., 
with  the  ist  and  2nd  brigades  of  the  division,  I  reported  in  person 
to  Maj.  Gen.  Thomas,  who  directed  me  to  proceed  to  Huntsville  as 
rapidly  as  I  could  do  with  safety.  I  accordingly  started  on  a  train 
from  Chattanooga  at  sundown,  and  arrived  safely  at  Huntsville  at 
12  o'clock  m.,  Oct.  2nd  and  went  into  camp  on  the  south  side  of 
town,  where  we  remained  about  two  hours,  when  I  received  orders 
to  move  to  the  depot  immediately.  On  going  to  my  command,  I 
found  it  all  asleep,  a  luxury  the  men  had  not  enjoyed  since  leaving, 
Atlanta,  three  days  before.  Shortly  after  arriving  at  the  depot,  we 
commenced  reloading  the  same  cars  from  which  we  had  disembark- 
ed but  two  or  three  hours  previously.  At  dark  the  entire  division 
moved  towards  Athens,  six  miles  when  we  met  with  obstructions  on 
the  road  that  delayed  us  until  next  morning,  when  we  again  started, 
reaching  within  six  miles  of  Athens  by  noon.  Here  were  other  ob- 
structions in  the  road,  and  we  disembarked  for  the  last  time.  By 
the  order  of  Gen.  Morgan,  I  directed  Capt.  Cook,  commanding  the 
1 25th  Ills.,  to  guard  the  empty  trains  back  to  Huntsville,  and  return 
to  the  brigade  by  next  train.  At  2  o'clock  p.  m.,  the  brigade  march- 
ed with  the  division  to  Athens,  and  went  into  camp  in  two  lines, 
facing  south-east.  It  will  be  seen  that  my  command  was  three  days 
and  four  nights  traveling  from  Atlanta  to  Athens,  and  with  the  ex- 
ception of  about  six  hours  of  that  time  they  were  on  the  cars,  so 
closely  crowded  that  none  could  lie  down,  even  had  that  been  pos- 
sible they  could  not  have  slept,  owing  to  the  very  heavy  rain  that 
fell  almost  without  intermission  during  the  trip.  It  was  the  ill  for- 
tune of  my  brigade,  to  ride  on  trains  managed  by  drunken,  incom- 
petent, and  irresponsible  conductors  and  engineers,  who,  for  the 
most  part,  seemed  perfectly  indifferent  to  the  sufferings  and  incon- 
venience they  imposed  upon  the  soldiers,  so  long  as  they  enjoyed 
official  confidence,  a  profitable  salary,  and  plenty  to  eat. 

On  the  morning  of  the  fourth  of  October,  the  brigade,  except  the 
i25th  Ills.,  not  yet  returned  from  Huntsville,  and  the  uoth  Ills.,  in 
charge  of  supplies,  marched  from  Athens  toward  Florence,  fording 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I.  215 

the  Elk  River  at  Brown's  Ferry,  about  sundown,  after  which  it 
marched  four  miles  to  Rogersville  and  encamped  for  the  night. 
Oct  5th,  marched  at  6  o'clock  a.  m.,  crossed  Shoal  creek  at  dark, 
and  went  into  camp  beyond  and  within  seven  miles  of  Florence. 
Oct.  6th,  the  first  brigade  moved  toward  Florence  at  7  o'clock  a.  m. 
but  met  the  enemy's  cavalry  skirmishers  just  beyond  our  picket  line. 
I  was  immediately  ordered  to  follow  with  three  regiments,  leaving 
one  as  camp  guard.  It  was  with  little  difficulty  that  a  reconnoisance 
was  pushed  through  to  Florence,  as  it  was  afterwards  ascertained 
that  the  enemy  opposing  our  propress  thither,  amounted  to  only 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  men.  We  reached  the  town  at  i  o'clock 
p.  m.,  and  there  learned  certainly,  what  we  already  suspected,  that 
Forrest  had  escaped  across  the  Tennessee.  At  3  o'clock  p.  m.,  we 
returned  to  Shoal  creek,  reaching  there  about  sundown.  On  the 
following  morning  the  entire  command  with  the  division  returned  to 
Florence,  and  went  into  camp  on  the  south-east  side  of  the  town, 
where  we  remained  two  days. 

Up  to  this  time,  from  the  date  of  our  departure  from  Atlanta,  it 
rained  heavily  every  day,  rendering  the  roads  from  Athens  to  Flor- 
ence very  muddy,  besides  swelling  the  numerous  streams  to  their 
banks.  These  streams  we  were  compelled  to  ford,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Shoal  creek,  which  had  a  good  bridge.  The  men  were 
drenching  wet,  adding  greatly  to  the  weight  of  their  loads,  and  their 
sleep,  though  sound,  was  the  sleep  of  exhaustion  and  afforded  them 
but  little  rest.  Besides  many  were  bare  footed  and  foot  sore.  Those 
who  fell  sick  by  the  way  side,  were  left  in  houses  to  the  care  of  the 
citizens,  as  we  had  no  means  of  transportation.  The  citizens,  as 
far  as  I  am  able  to  learn,  uniformly  treated  our  sick  soldiers  with  a 
great  deal  of  kindness.  Officers  had  no  comforts  or  conveniences 
above  those  of  enlisted  men,  and  indulged  only  in  such  luxuries  as 
they  could  transport  by  virtue  of  their  own  physical  strength.  In 
short  I  do  not  hesitate  to  say,  that  our  trip  from  Atlanta  to  Flor- 
ence, came  nearer  tasking  to  the  utmost,  the  physical  endurance  of 
the  American  soldier,  than  any  campaign  I  ever  witnessed,  and  I 
cannot  withold  the  mead  of  praise  so  eminently  due  the  brave 
officers  and  men  who  made  it.  They  performed  all  that  was  required 
of  them  with  that  characteristic  cheerfulness,  which  has  recently  be- 
come so  strongly  engrafted  in  the  heart  of  our  army.  Oct.  loth, 
we  left  Florence  on  our  way  back  towards  Athens,  marched  nine- 
teen miles,  and  encamped  for  the  night.  Oct.  nth,  resumed  march 
towards  Athens,  and  encamped  for  the  night  within  eight  miles 
of  the  town.  Oct.  i2th,  reached  Athens  at  10  o'clock  a.  m.,  where 
the  1 25th  Ills,  rejoined  the  brigade.  We  moved  two  miles  east  of 
town,  and  went  into  temporary  camp.  At  2  o'clock  p.  m.,  I  received 
orders  from  Gen.  Morgan  to  detail  one  regiment  to  rebuild  a  rail 


2l6  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I. 

road  bridge  across  a  branch  of  Lime  Stone  creek,  which  next  morn- 
ing it  had  completed,  and  about  noon  cars  began  to  arrive  at  Ath- 
ens to  transport  the  division  to  Chattanooga.  My  command  got  off 
at  4  o'clock  a.  m.,  Oct.  i3th,  and  reached  Chattanooga  at  midnight 
and  went  in  camp  in  two  lines  on  the  west  side  of  town  where  it  re- 
mained four  days.  My  first  effort  was  to  procure  shoes  and  cloth- 
ing for  my  barefooted  and  almost  naked  men.  I  succeeded  in  pro- 
curing 785  pairs  of  shoes,  and  a  sufficient  supply  of  clothing.  At 
the  expiration  of  our  four  days  rest  at  Chattanooga,  we  marched,  on 
the  morning  of  the  i8th  of  October,  by  the  Rossville  and  Dry  Val- 
ley roads,  to  Lee  and  Gordon's  mills  on  the  Chickamauga  river  and 
encamped  for  the  night.  Oct.  igth  marched  to  La  Fayette  and 
camped  for  the  night.  Oct.  2oth,  marched  south  from  La  Fayette 
about  twelve  miles  and  turned  to  the  right,  on  a  road  leading  to 
Brown  Town  Valley,  and  after  fording  Chattanooga  river,  we  went 
into  camp  for  the  night.  October  2ist,  marched  25  miles  on  Brown 
Town  Valley  road  towards  Galesville.  Oct.  22nd,  marched  to 
Galesville,  and  went  into  camp  north  of  town,  where  we  joined  the 
corps  and  remained  five  days,  subsisting  partly  on  government  ra- 
tions, and  partly  on  the  country.  Oct.  28th,  left  camp  at  2  o'clock 
p.  m.,  and  marched  8  miles  towards  Rome  and  camped  for  the  night 
at  Missionary  station,  near  the  state  line.  Oct.  29th,  resumed  the 
march  at  6  o'clock  a.  m.,  and  encamped  at  night  on  the  north  side 
of  the  Ostanalla  river,  and  within  one  mile  of  Rome,  where  we  re- 
mained until  Oct.  3ist,  when  I  received  orders  to  march  to  Kings- 
ton as  guard  to  corps  train.  My  command  left  Rome  at  3  o'clock 
p.  m.,  marched  8  miles  and  encamped  at  night  on  Cedar  creek.  Re- 
sumed march  at  7  a.  m.  next  day,  and  reached  Kingston  within  three 
hours,  when  it  went  into  camp  and  remained  until  November  8th, 
on  which  day  we  marched  to  Cartersville  and  encamped  south-west 
of  town  about  two  miles,  until  November  i2th,  when  I  was  ordered 
to  relieve  a  brigade  of  the  2nd  division,  i5th  army  corps,  at  the  fort 
on  the  Etowah  river.  November  i3th,  marched  to  Ackworth,  stop- 
ping on  the  way  to  tear  up  and  destroy  three  and  a  half  miles  of 
rail  road  track  and  ties;  reached  camp  at  9  p.  m.  November  i4th, 
marched  by  way  of  Kenesaw  Mountain  to  within  four  miles  of 
Chattahoochie  river.  November  i5th,  resumed  march  at  6  o'clock 
a.  m.,  crossed  the  river  on  pontoon  bridge  and  reached  Atlanta  at  i 
o'clock  p.  m.  This  may  be  said  to  finish  the  North  Alabama  cam- 
paign, having  been  gone  from  Atlanta  forty-eight  days,  instead  of 
four,  as  was  expected.  Before  reaching  Atlanta,  I  sent  orders  to 
Captain  Hall,  commanding  a  small  detachment  of  the  brigade  at 
that  place,  to  procure  guns,  accoutrements  and  ammunition  for 
every  man  in  his  command  able  to  march,  and  I  also  had  requisi- 
tions made  by  regimental  commanders,  for  the  amount  of  such  or- 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I.  217 

nance  stores  required  to  perfectly  equip  their  command.  I  had 
also  an  officer  detailed  from  each  regiment  to  take  these  requisitions 
to  Atlanta,  and  give  them  their  personal  attention.  These  were  sent 
from  Kingston  as  soon  as  I  received  intelligence  that  we  would 
shortly  cut  loose  from  our  "  old  base  ;"  but  they  failed  to  get  the 
men  properly  armed,  in  consequence  of  the  surplus  ordnance  stores 
having  been  shipped  from  Atlanta  before  their  arrival.  This  left  my 
command  on  reaching  Atlanta,  short  fifty-four  guns  and  accoutre- 
ments. From  Kingston,  also,  I  directed  my  brigade  quartermaster, 
Lieut.  A.  M.  Ayers,  to  proceed  to  Atlanta  and  draw  his  estimate  of 
clothing  and  allowance  of  transportation.  This  he  did  to  my  entire 
satisfaction,  having  procured  a  sufficient  number  of  shoes  to  give 
every  man  two  pair;  the  result  of  which  was,  that  upon  our  arrival 
at  Savannah,  I  had  not  a  barefoot  soldier  in  my  command. 

The  jrd  brigade,  comprising  1721  total  commissioned  officers 
and  enlisted  men  present,  left  Atlanta  Nov.  i6th,  at  12  m.,  and 
marched  on  the  Decatur  road  9  miles  and  camped  for  the  night. 
Nov.  1 7th,  marched  at  7  a.  m.  by  way  of  Lithonia  to  Conyer's  sta- 
tion. During  the  afternoon  of  this  day  we  tore  up  and  destroyed 
three  miles  of  rail  road  track  and  ties.  Nov.  i8th,  marched  at  6 
o'clock  a.  m.  on  the  Covington  road,  and  camped  for  the  night  three 
miles  east  of  that  town.  To  day  the  brigade  destroyed  two  and  a 
half  miles  of  railroad  track  and  ties.  To-day,  also,  we  began  to 
subsist  off  the  country.  Nov.  igth,  marched  at  6  o'clock  a.  m., 
crossed  Alcova  river,  and  went  into  camp  at  dark  near  Shady  Dale. 
Nov.  20th,  marched  at  7  a.  m.,  and  camped  at  night  near  Eatonton 
Factory.  Nov.  2ist,  marched  at  6  o'clock  a.  m. ,  and  camped  at 
night  on  east  side  of  Cedar  creek.  Nov.  22nd,  laid  still  to  day  and 
let  the  ist  and  3rd  divisions  of  the  corps  pass  by.  Nov.  23rd,  march- 
ed at  6  a.  m.  with  two  regiments  as  train  guard,  and  two  as  rear 
guard,  and  camped  at  night  within  two  miles  of  Milledgeville,  the 
rear  guard  reaching  camp  at  half  past  9  o'clock  p.  m.  Nov.  24th 
marched  at  10  o'clock  a.  m.  through  Milledgeville,  Georgia's  capitol, 
with  colors  displayed,  and  bands  playing  national  airs,  and  camped 
at  night  seven  miles  beyond,  on  the  Sandersville  road.  Nov.  25th, 
marched  at  6  a.  m.  to  Buffalo  creek,  where  we  found  the  bridge  had 
been  destroyed  just  before  our  arrival.  My  command  marched  at 
the  head  of  the  division  column  to-day  ;  upon  its  reaching  this  creek 
I  set  to  work  a  company  of  pioneers  and  two  companies  of  men 
from  the  22nd  Indiana,  and  in  half  an  hour  had  constructed  a  very 
good  foot  bridge,  upon  which  I  crossed  the  22nd  Ind.,  and  after- 
wards the  entire  brigade.  Leaving  my  pioneer  party  to  assist  Col. 
Buell  in  putting  down  a  pontoon  bridge  for  the  crossing  of  trains, 
we  camped  at  night  on  Keg  creek.  Nov1.  26th,  marched  at  6  o'clock 
a.  m..  crossed  Keg  creek  and  met  rebel  skirmishers  within  ten  miles 
3° 


2l8  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 

of  Sandersvillj.  My  foraging  party  assisted  the  troops  in  the  advance 
to  drive  the  enemy  through  town.  We  arrived  in  town  at  10  o'clock 
a.  m.,  and  went  into  camp  on  the  north  side.  Nov.  27th,  marched 
at  7  a.  m.  on  the  Louisville  road,  crossed  the  Ogechee  river,  and 
camped  within  eight  miles  of  Louisville  for  the  night.  Nov.  28th, 
marched  at  6  o'clock  a.  m.  to  within  one  mile  of  Louisville,  where 
we  found  that  the  bridge  across  Rocky  Comfort  creek,  had  been 
burnt,  and  was  being  repaired  by  the  3rd  division,  i4th  army  corps. 
At  dusk  I  crossed  my  command  over,  marched  through  the  town, 
and  went  into  camp  on  the  left  of  the  Augusta  road,  about  one  and 
a  half  miles  beyond.  Nov.  2gth,  remained  in  camp  all  day.  Nov. 
3Oth,  still  in  camp  at  Louisville.  To-day  I  deployed  the  86th  and 
1 25th  Ills,  as  skirmishers,  supported  by  the  52nd  Ohio  and  22nd 
Ind.  and  moved  forward,  covering  the  Warrenton  and  Augusta  roads. 
This  movement  was  induced  by  the  presence  in  our  vicinity  of  small 
parties  of  the  enemy's  cavalry,  that  had  for  two  or  three  days  past, 
been  capturing  and  murdering  foragers  and  other  soldiers  who  were 
so  unfortunate  as  to  fall  into  their  power.  The  enemy  had,  on  the 
night  previous  to  this  movement,  captured  and  killed  two  men  of  the 
85th  Ills.,  and  one  of  the  i25th  Ills.  My  line  advanced  at  n  o'clock 
a.  m.  and  drove  the  enemy  in  fine  style,  recapturing  a  small  foraging 
party  with  trains  from  the  2oth  corps,  that  had  ventured  too  far  out. 
Pretty  smart  skirmishing  continued  for  some  minutes,  when  the  en- 
emy attempted  to  break  my  line,  but  were  repulsed  by  the  86th  Ills., 
with  the  loss  of  one  captain  and  one  private,  who  were  killed  out- 
right, and  left  by  the  flying  enemy  on  the  field.  At  this  juncture, 
by  order  of  Gen.  Morgan,  I  halted  and  adjusted  my  line.  Every- 
thing remained  quiet  until  3:30  p.  m.,  when  I  received  orders  to 
move  forward  until  my  right  should  connect  with  the  left  of  the  2nd 
brigade,  which  was  moving  across  towards  the  Augusta  from  the 
Waynsboro  road.  In  this  movement  my  line  advanced  at  the  doub- 
le quick  across  a  cornfield,  to  the  woods  beyond,  driving  the  enemy 
out  of  a  line  of  works  about  two  hundred  yards  in  length.  It  being 
deemed  useless  to  pursue  cavalry  with  infantry,  I  was  directed  at 
sun  down  to  withdraw  my  brigade,  and  reestablish  my  picket  line 
as  it  had  been  in  the  morning,  which  I  did,  the  enemy  following  the 
skirmish  line  as  it  retired.  .  In  this  day's  operations  a  good  deal  of 
shooting  was  done  by  the  enemy,  but  in  driving  him  more  than  a 
mile,  he  did  not  succeed  in  wounding  one  of  our  men.  We  recov- 
ered the  bodies  of  the  enlisted  men  murdered  the  night  before.  I 
have  no  hesitancy  in  saying  they  were  deliberately  murdered  after 
they  had  surrendered,  as  was  evinced  by  an  examination  of  the  fatal 
wounds.  One  man  was  shot  through  the  head,  the  ball  entered  just 
above  the  left  ear,  surrounding  the  entrance  the  hair  was  singed 
close  to  the  scalp  by  the  burning  powder.  'The  other  two  were  shot 


THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   1.  2 19 

through  the  body  ;  one  was  shot  three  times,  and  the  other  twice. 
So  close  was  the  weapon  held  when  discharged,  that  in  every  in- 
stance the  clothing  was  scorched  and  burned. 

In  front  of  the  left  of  my  picket  line,  stood  a  cotton  gin  contain- 
ing forty-eight  bales  of  cotton,  the  property  of  Asa  Hoyt,  behind 
which  the  enemy  had  concealed  himself,  and  fired  upon  my  men  in 
the  morning.  Not  willing  to  give  him  the  advantage  of  that  posi- 
tion longer,  upon  the  withdrawal  of  my  troops,  I  detailed  Major 
Holmes,  52nd  Ohio,  with  a  small  number  of  men  to  destroy  it, 
which  they  accordingly  did,  and  which  fact  I  reported  to  you  in 
writing,  while  the  gin  was  still  burning.  This  embraces  the  only 
property  of  any  kind  burned  by  my  orders  during  the  campaign. 
Dec.  ist,  marched  at  10  a.  m.  as  guard  to  3rd  division  train,  and 
reached  camp  at  i  r  p.  m.  Dec.  2nd.  marched  at  8  a.  m.  Furnish- 
ed two  regiments  to  guard  the  corps  reserve  artillery  and  ammuni- 
tion trains,  and  reached  camp  at  8  p.  m.  Dec.  3rd,  marched  at  9 
a.  m.  on  Augusta  road ;  crossed  Buckhead  creek  and  went  into 
camp  at  dark  on  Mill  creek,  near  Lumpton's  station.  Dec.  4th, 
marched  at  noon  in  rear  of,  and  as  guard  to,  3rd  division  trains  ; 
passed  through  Habersham,  and  went  into  camp  at  10  p.  m.  Dec. 
5th,  marched  at  7  o'clock  a.  m.;  furnished  guard  of  two  regiments 
for  corps  reserve  artillery  trains,  and  camped  for  the  night  at  7  p.m. 
Dec.  6th,  marched  at  6:30  a.  m.;  good  roads  all  day.  Marched 
twenty-one  and  a  half  miles  on  main  Savannah  road,  and  went  into 
camp  for  the  night  Road  blocked  just  ahead  of  this  camp  for 
three  quarters  of  a  mile  by  fallen  trees.  At  night  I  made  a  detail 
of  sufficient  pioneer  force  to  clear  the  road,  which  they  accomplish- 
ed by  9  p.  m.  Dec.  7th,  marched  at  n  a.  m.  in  rear  of,  and  as 
guard  to,  3rd  division  trains.  Reached  camp  at  Ebeneezer  creek  at 
8  p.  m.  Dec  8th,  marched  at  7  a.  m.;  order  of  march  changed. 
Left  all  transportation  excepting  that  belonging  to  brigade  and  regi- 
mental headquarters  ;  crossed  Ebeneezer  creek  at  12  m.  and  awaited 
the  building  of  a  bridge  over  little  Kogglies  creek ;  after  which  we 
marched  four  miles  beyond,  and  went  into  camp  at  8  p.  m.  In  half 
an  hour  afterwards  I  received  orders  to  return  and  camp  for  the 
night  between  the  two  creeks.  Got  into  camp  at  up.  m.  Dec.  gth, 
marched  at  7  a.  m.,  moved  four  miles  and  built  two  bridges  over 
creeks.  Moved  about  four  miles  farther  on  and  encountered  a  sec- 
tion of  a  rebel  battery  planted  in  the  road,  well  protected  by  a  sub- 
stantial earth  work.  I  received  orders  from  Gen.  Morgan  to  send 
the  1 25th  Ills,  forward,  deployed  as  skirmishers,  on  each  side  of  the 
road,  and  develop,  if  possible,  the  strength  of  the  enemy.  The 
regiment  thus  moved  to  within  one  hundred  yards  of  the  rebel 
works,  without  drawing. a  shot  from  the  enemy's  musketry,  though 
his  artillery  played  continually  upon  a  piece  of  our  own  posted  in 


220  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I. 

the  road.  The  enemy  had  selected  a  good  position  to  make  a  brief 
stand  with  a  small  number  of  men,  having  built  his  works  in  the 
center,  and  on  either  side  of  the  road,  just  beyond  where  it  divides 
a  swamp.  By  direction  of  Gen.  Morgan,  I  pushed  forward  the  86th 
Ills  ,  six  companies  as  skirmishers,  until  it  joined  the  right  of  the 
1 25th  Ills.  I  then  directed  Lieut.  Col.  Fahnestock,  commanding 
the  86th  Ills.,  to  wheel  gradually  to  the  left,  and  if  possible  get  his 
right  to  the  enemy's  rear.  This  he  did,  so  far  as  was  in  his  power, 
but  his  whole  line  was  in  a  swamp,  where  vines,  rank  weeds,  and 
undergrowth  timber  was  so  abundant,  that  his  progress  was  necessa- 
rily too  slow  to  reach  the  desired  position  before  dark,  and  at  dark, 
by  order  of  Gen.  Morgan,  the  entire  line  was  halted  and  established 
as  a  picket  line  for  the  night.  During  the  night  the  enemy  with- 
drew, and  my  skirmishers  entered  his  works  at  daybreak.  In  this 
affair  two  men  of  the  86th  Ills,  were  wounded.  Dec.  loth,  march- 
ed at  7  a.  m.;  proceeded  five  miles  in  the  direction  of  Savannah, 
when  we  struck  the  2oth  army  corps  column.  Went  ioto  camp  for 
the  afternoon  and  night,  on  the  left  of  the  road.  Dec.  nth,  march- 
ed at  8  a.  m.  towards  the  city  as  far  as  the  five  mile  post,  and  turned 
to  the  right  and  marched  about  three  quarters  of  a  mile,  when,  by 
direction  of  Gen.  Morgan,  I  went  into  position  in  three  lines,  in  re- 
serve, facing  south.  My  camp  was  as  comfortable  as  I  could  wish, 
being  on  high  ground,  and  in  the  midst  of  a  pine  grove.  Dec.  i2th, 
in  the  afternoon  my  command  tore  up  and  destroyed  two  and  a  half 
miles  of  track  and  ties,  on  the  Savannah  and  Macon  railroad.  Dec. 
1 3th,  made  the  road,  destroyed  yesterday,  suitable  for  a  wagon  road, 
after  which  the  brigade  did  no  other  duties  than  furnish  train  and 
other  guards,  until  the  2 and  of  December,  the  day  subsequent  to 
the  fall  of  Savannah,  when  my  command  marched  to  within  one  and 
a  half  miles  of  the  city,  and  went  into  camp  in  two  lines,  facing 
north,  on  the  left  of  the  canal,  where  we  now  are,  making  prepara- 
tions for  such  other  work  as  may  be  our  lot  to  perform.  This  brig- 
ade, though  small,  is,  perhaps,  in  as  good  condition  for  active  opera- 
tions, as  any.  There  are  many  officers  and  men  absent,  whom  I 
would  be  glad  to  have  returned  to  their  command.  While  in  camp 
at  Atlanta  during  the  month  of  September  last,  there  was  perfected 
and  forwarded  a  list  of  absentees,  and  efforts  were  being  made  to 
secure  their  return,  but  before  much  could  be  accomplished  in  this 
respect,  the  brigade  was  put  in  motion,  and  only  stopped  since  ar- 
riving at  this  place.  The  strength  of  the  command  is  as  follows  : 

Present:     Commissioned  officers,  80.     Enlisted  men,   1634. 

Absent:     Commissioned  officers,  58.     Enlisted  men,   1177. 

Total:     Commissioned  officers,  138.     Enlisted  men,    2811. 

After  two  day's  marching  from  Atlanta,  I  found  necessity  for  a 
party  of  pioneers  to  clear  out  and  repair  bad'  places  in  the  road.  To 


THE    I25TH    REGIMENT   I.    V.    I.  221 

meet  this  end  I  detailed  30  enlisted  men,  for  whom  I  could  not  pro- 
cure guns,  and  armed  them  with  spades,  picks,  and  axes.  These  I 
put  under  command  of  Lt.  Groninger,  of  the  86th  Ills.,  an  officer 
of  the  proper  spirit  and  energy  to  make  such  a  party  very  useful.  I 
required  these  pioneers  to  march,  each  day,  at  the  head  of  the  brig- 
ade column,  and  build  rail  and  pole  bridges  over  small  streams,  for 
the  safe  and  speedy  passage  of  troops,  and  none  will  fail  to  appreci- 
ate the  utility  of  such  a  force  on  all  campaigns.  When  once  drilled  to 
labor,  they  will  perform  as  much  work  in  the  same  length  of  time, 
as  three  times  the  number  detailed  temporarily  from  the  ranks.  On 
the  1 8th  of  November,  I  began  to  subsist  off  the  country,  and  to 
prevent,  as  far  as  possible,  pillaging  and  marauding,  and  all  manner 
of  lawlessness,  I  had  details  of  thirty  men,  and  one  commissioned 
officer,  made  daily,  from  each  regiment,  who  reported  at  an  hour 
stated,  at  brigade  headquarters,  where  these  details  were  verified. 
These  I  put  in  charge  of  a  field,  or  acting  field  officer,  whom  I 
made  responsible  for  the  conduct  of  his  men  on  that  day.  I  di- 
rected that  every  thing  obtained  should  be  reported  to  this  officer, 
and  by  him  turned  over,  if  subsistence  for  the  troops,  to  the  brig- 
ade commissary,  or  if  mules  and  horses,  to  the  brigade  quartermas- 
ter. By  so  doing  my  foragers  always  obtained  plenty  and  the  troops 
shared  alike  in  its  distribution  through  the  brigade  commissary. 
From  a  statement  submitted  to  me  by  Lt.  Batchelder,  A.  C.  S.,  I 
find  that  from  Nov.  i6th,  until  Dec.  i6th,  inclusive,  my  command 
drew,  per  man,  of  hard  bread,  9  rations ;  peas,  8  rations ;  coffee,  26 
rations;  salt,  25  rations;  sugar,  15  rations;  bacon,  4  rations,  and 
salt  pork,  6  rations,  beyond  which  issues  the  command  subsisted 
from  the  country,  and  always  had  abundance.  Besides  this  tab- 
ular statement  of  issues,  I  left  Atlanta  with  150  head  of  beef  cattle 
very  poor  in  flesh,  and  already  weak  from  travel.  The  forage  par- 
ties supplied  the  command  so  bountifully  with  fresh  pork,  that  but 
little  beef  was  consumed  on  the  march,  and  before  reaching  Savan- 
nah, nearly  all  these  cattle  had  died  along  the  road,  or  were  aban- 
doned on  account  of  being  too  weak  to  travel ;  but  still  my  drove 
increased  daily  by  acquisitions  from  the  country,  and  on  the  i2th  of 
December,  when  my  command  reached  this  position,  it  numbered 
about  231  head,  large  and  small,  all  of  which  have  since  been  issu- 
ed to  the  troops.  My  forage  details  were  frequently  annoyed  by 
the  enemy,  but,  by  always  keeping  well  together,  they  were  able  to 
resist  or  drive  away  a  considerable  force.  On  the  3Oth  November, 
particularly,  the  foragers  of  the  brigade,  under  command  of  Capt. 
Powers,  of  the  2 2nd  Ind,  were  attacked  about  nine  miles  from 
Louisville,  by  a  party  of  Wheeler's  command,  and  after  a  brisk 
fight,  drove  the  enemy  away.  Towards  night  of  the  same  day,  as 
the  detail  was  proceeding  to  camp  at  Louisville,  with  four  ox  wagon 


222  THE    I25TH    REGIMENT    I.   V.    I. 

loads  of  forage,  they  were  suddenly  surrounded  by  three  of  Wheel- 
er's regiments,  and  after  some  very  severe  fighting,  succeeded  in 
getting  into  camp,  with  the  loss  of  one  man  killed  and  four  wound- 
ed, and  were  compelled  to  abandon  their  provisions  and  wagons. 
On  the  291)1  November,  I  mounted  forty  men  on  captured  mules 
and  horses,  and  placed  the  party  under  command  of  Captain  Har- 
bor, of  the  1 25th  Ills.,  a  very  brave  and  efficient  officer  These  la- 
bored to  find  where  subsistence  could  be  obtained,  and  to  aid  the 
infantry  details  in  getting  it,  as  well  as  for  the  purpose  of  capturing 
stock  for  the  use  of  the  army.  It  is  not  possible  for  me  to  state  the 
exact  number  of  horses  and  mules  captured,  as  such  property  was 
frequently  taken  from  my  foragers,  while  on  their  way  to  camp,  and 
informally  turned  over  to  Lt.  Coe,  quartermaster  for  the  division. 
How  many  were  turned  over  by  orders  from  these  headquarters,  to- 
gether with  the  number  known  to  have  been  informally  returned  to 
Lt.  Coe,  were:  horses,  104:  mules,  160;  total,  264.  These  num- 
bers might  have  been  increased  somewhat,  had  I  sent  out  parties  to 
hunt  exclusively  for  stock,  but  in  nearly  every  instance  such  cap- 
tures were  the  labors  of  my  subsistence  details. 

The  number  of  negroes  that  followed  my  column  was  160.  Of 
these  92  were  officers'  sefvants  and  68  were  refugees.  The  latter 
have  been  sent  to  division  headquarters  pursuant  to  orders.  I  sub- 
mit and  call  your  attention  to  casualty  lists  of  the  north  Alabama 
and  the  Savannah  campaigns  hereto  attached.  A  few  of  those 
marked  "missing,"  deserve  the  punishment  prisoners  of  war  usually 
get,  but  it  is  the  misfortune  of  the  service  that  such  men  belong  to 
the  army  and  are  counted  as  soldiers.  They  were  doubtless  in  the 
act  of  stealing  something  when  captured.  I  suppose  every  com- 
mand has  a  few  of  such  men.  I  know  this  one  has,  whom  to  loose 
from  the  army  is  a  gain  to  the  government.  Nor  can  I  say  much 
less  of  some  officers  in  the  service,  who  in  spite  of  their  long  exper- 
ience, and  in  face  of  positive  orders  to  the  contrary,  suffer,  nay,  by 
their  passiveness,  encourage  their  men  to  throw  aside  the  restrictions 
of  discipline,  and  become  out-laws  and  brigands.  I  believe  a  com- 
pany commander  should  be  the  best  disciplinarian  in  the  service, 
and  should  feel  that  his  position,  so  immediately  connecting  him 
with  the  rank  and  file,  makes  him  the  surest  conservator  of  the  peace 
and  good  order  of  the  army.  And  an  officer  who  from  incompe- 
tency  or  other  cause  is  not  well  adapted  to  teach  and  maintain  a 
good  system  of  discipline  in  his  command,  should  be  summarily  dis- 
missed from  the  service.  A  few  of  such  in  my  command  I  could 
cheerfully  recommend  for  dismissal,  and  do  honestly  believe  the  ser- 
vice would  be  promoted  thereby.  Since  the  fall  of  Atlanta  the 
brigade  staff  has  undergone  several  changes.  Most  of  the  old  mem- 
bers were  absent  during  the  Savannah  campaign.  Those  at  present 


THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I.  223 

serving  on  such  duty,  without  specially  naming  them  here,  have  all 
well  and  faithfully  discharged  every  trust  confided  to  them.  I  am 
also  under  special  obligations  to  regimental  commanders  for  their 
efforts  to  maintain  strict  discipline  throughout  the  entire  campaign. 
I  commend  them  all  to  my  superior  officers. 

RECAPITULATION. 

Number  of  horses  captured,  104;  mules,  160;  total,  264.  Num- 
ber of  negroes  that  followed  the  command,  160.  Rations  issued  on 
the  Atlanta  and  Savannah  campaigns  per  man  :  Hard  bread,  9 
rations  ;  peas,  8  rations;  coffee,  26  rations  ;  salt,  25  rations  ;  sugar, 
15  rations  ;  bacon,  4  rations  ;  salt  pork,  6  rations.  Amount  of  rail- 
road destroyed,  track  and  ties,  1 1^  miles ;  cotton  destroyed,  48 
bales  ;  cotton  gins,  one. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be  Captain, 

Very  Respectfully, 

Theo.  Wiseman,  Your  Obedient  Servant 

Capt.  and  A.  A.  G.  JAS.  W.  LANGLEY, 

Second  Division.  Lieut.  Col.  Comdg.  Brigade. 


BRIGADE  REPORT  FROM  BENTONVILLE    TO    GOLDS- 
BORO,  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

Headquarters  3rd  Brigade,  2d  Division,  i4th  A.  C. 
Goldsboro,  N.  C.,  March  30,  1865. 

CAPTAIN  :  I  have  the  honor  to  report  herewith  the  operations  of 
this  brigade  from  the  hour  I  assumed  command  of  the  same  up  to 
its  arrival  at  this  place. 

A  few  minutes  before  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  igth,  I 
was  informed  by  Capt.  Swift,  A.  A.  A.  G.  of  the  brigade,  that  Gen. 
Fearing  was  wounded  and  disabled  for  further  command,  when  I 
immediately  assumed  command  of  the  brigade.  This  was  just  as 
my  own  regiment  came  out  of  the  fight  and  began  its  formation  on 
the  Goldsboro  road,  as  described  in  my  regimental  report.  Capt. 
Snodgrass,  commanding  the  22d  Indiana,  had  rallied  about  loomen, 
mostly  of  his  left  wing,  which  had  remained  in  better  order  than  his 
right.  The  i25th  Illinois  almost  entire  formed  line  to  the  left  and 
on  the  prolongation  of  the  basis  of  alignment  of  the  22nd  Indiana. 
I  immediately  directed  two  staff  officers  to  find  the  52d  Ohio  and 
86th  Illinois  and  put  them  in  their  order  on  the  right  of  this  new 
line.  While  these  officers  were  preparing  to  execute  this  order,  I 
directed  so  much  of  the  line  as  was  already  formed  to  move  forward 


224  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.    V.  I. 

to  a  point  by  me  designated,  where  the  left  should  rest,  and  about 
seventy-five  yards  in  advance  of  the  rallying  point.  I  had  at  this 
time  but  one  entire  regiment  and  so  much  of  the  22d  Indiana  as 
above  mentioned.  These  I  directed  to  carry  rails  and  when  arrived 
at  the  point  to  which  they  were  ordered,  to  advance.  I  then  chose 
my  defensive  line,  nearly  at  right  angles  with  the  Goldsboro  road, 
and  ordered  works  to  be  rapidly  constructed.  As  soon  as  the  work 
began,  a  brigade  of  the  2oth  A.  C.,  commanded  by  Gen.  Robinson, 
joined  my  left,  and  began  the  construction  of  a  refused  line.  I  then 
passed  towards  the  right  and  met  Capt.  James,  commanding  a  por- 
tion of  the  52d  Ohio,  and  directed  him  to  form  on  the  22d  Indiana. 
Very  soon  thereafter  Lieut.  Col.  Fahnestock  reported  with  a  part  of 
the  86th  Illinois,  whom  I  directed  to  form  on  the  right  of  the  52d 
Ohio,  refusing  well  his  right.  By  this  time  I  may  safely  say  that  not 
more  than  one-half  the  command  was  present.  I  urged  regimental 
commanders  to  bring  forward  their  men  as  rapidly  as  possible,  and 
waste  no  time  in  strengthening  their  works.  Cartridge-boxes  were 
nearly  empty,  and  I  directed  Captain  Swift  to  find  ammunition 
wherever  he  could  and  distribute  it  to  the  regiments.  This  he  ob- 
tained from  the  2Oth  army  corps,  not  being  able  to  find  ammunition 
wagons  of  our  own  division.  Men  who  had  become  separated  from 
their  commands,  were  rapidly  coming  forward,  so  that  the  line  was 
now  compelled  to  yield  battalion  front  to  the  right.  My  works  were 
scarcely  strong  enough  to  protect  men  lying  down,  when  the  ene- 
my's skirmishers  advanced  to  within  shooting  distance,  and  com- 
menced a  lively  fire.  At  this  moment  a  staff  officer  of  the  Major 
General  commanding  left  wing,  met  Captain  Burkhalter,  brigade 
inspector,  and  directed  that  the  line  should  be  thrown  back  about 
seventy-five  yards.  This  direction  I  could  not  obey,  even  if  the 
point,  selected  by  him,  had  been  more  advisable,  for  the  main  line 
of  the  enemy  at  this  moment  vigorously  assaulted  my  works,  and 
were  handsomely  repulsed.  My  line  having  proved  available  once 
I  determined  to  strengthen  and  hold  it ;  besides  it  was  the  nearest 
position  I  could  obtain  to  the  lines  of  the  ist  and  2nd  brigades  of 
the  division,  which  I  knew  were  then  isolated  by  the  intervention  of 
a  heavy  rebel  column.  About  half  an  hour  before  sundown,  Gen. 
Coggswell,  commanding  a  brigade  of  the  2oth  army  corps,  moved 
in  past  my  right,  and  advanced  swinging  to  the  left  past  my  front, 
until  his  left  rested  about  150  yards  to  the  front  of  my  center. 
Here  his  command  became  hotly  engaged,  but  maintained  firmly  its 
position,  until  darkness  terminated  all  efforts  of  the  rebels  to  dis- 
lodge it.  During  the  fight  in  front,  my  left  was  attacked  by  strong 
columns  of  the  enemy,  but  in  every  instance  they  failed  to  move  it. 
As  soon  as  darkness  came  on,  I  directed  my  line  of  works  to  be 
made  strong,  and  obstructions  placed  in  front.  Though  the  troops 


THE    I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.  I.  225 

of  this  command  had  been  driven  back  at  an  early  period  of  the 
day,  I  can  bear  witness  to  the  total  absence  of  anything  like  demor- 
alization in  the  ranks,  in  the  engagement  I  have  attempted  to  dis- 
cribe.  Men  were  cool  and  determined,  and  fought  with  the  energy 
of  heroes.  During  the  night  I  maintained  a  good  picket  line  to  my 
front.  On  the  morning  of  the  2oth,  at  9  o'clock,  I  was  relieved  by 
Gen.  Carlin  of  the  ist  division,  and  directed  to  join  the  ist  and  2nd 
brigades.  This  I  did,  and  took  position  in  reserve.  At  9  p.  m.,  by 
f  order  of  Gen.  Morgan,  I  placed  two  regiments  in  temporary  works 
which  had  been  vacated  by  Gen.  Baird's  troops,  and  on  the  follow- 
ing morning  I  moved  the  two  remaining  regiments  of  the  brigade, 
and  extended  the  line  across  the  Goldsboro  road.  This  formation 
put  the  brigade  in  single  line  with  the  left  much  advanced.  Here  I 
had  constructed  a  strong  line  of  works.  This  new  position  placed 
me  about  one  third  of  a  mile  in  advance  of  the  ist  division  of  the 
corps,  and  with  no  connection  on  my  left,  which  fact  I  reported. 
About  10  a.  m.  Maj.  Gen.  Slocum  visited  my  line,  and  informed  me 
that  he  would  immediately  put  in  troops  on  my  left.  Soon  after  a 
division  of  the  2oth  army  corps  was  formed,  making  the  connection 
complete,  but  did  not  remain  more  than  half  an  hour,  when  it  was 
withdrawn,  again  leaving  my  left  exposed.  This  involved  the  nec- 
essity of  refusing  the  center  and  left  of  my  line  so  much,  that  it  threw 
my  entire  line  on  the  south  side  of,  and  parallel  to,  the  road.  About 
3  p.  m.,  the  enemy  opened  on  my  skirmish  line  with  artillery,  and  at 
the  same  time  advanced  a  line  of  battle  and  drove  the  skirmishers 
in.  The  line  of  battle  advanced  to  within  shooting  distance  of  my 
main  line,  but  hastily  retired  upon  receiving  our  fire.  The  most  of 
my  line  was  so  close  to  that  of  the  enemy,  that  lively  picket  firing 
was  kept  up  all  day.  At  night  the  enemy  retreated,  and  my  skir- 
mishers were  the  first  to  enter  his  works  at  daybreak,  which  fact  I 
reported  to  you  at  once.  On  the  22nd  instant  the  brigade  marched 
as  far  as  the  Neuse  river,  and  encamped  for  the  night.  On  the 
morning  of  the  23rd,  it  crossed  the  Neuse  and  marched  as  train 
guard  to  this  place,  where  it  reached  its  present  camp,  on  the  north 
side  of  the  city,  at  dark.  In  order  to  show,  to  some  extent,  the 
damage  done  to  the  enemy  in  the  fight  of  the  igth  instant,  I  have 
to  report  that  on  the  next  day,  details  from  this  brigade,  for  that 
purpose,  buried  112  dead  rebels,  including  8  commissioned  officers, 
on  our  front  alone.  Other  duties  were  required  of  the  troops  before 
the  dead  were  all  buried.  The  casualty  list  of  the  brigade,  pursu- 
ant to  orders,  has  been  forwarded.  My  grateful  thanks  are  due  to 
Captain  Swift,  A.  A.  A.  G.,  Captain  Burkhalter,  A.  A.  I.  G.,  and 
Lieut.  Tanner,  A.  D.  C.,  for  the  efficient  services  they  rendered  me 
at  the  critical  moment  when  I  assumed  command  of  the  brigade, 
and  their  subsequent  conduct  on  the  field  only  added  luster  to  their 


226  THE   I25TH  REGIMENT  I.  V.   I. 

long  acknowledged  bravery ;  also  to  Captain  Stinson  and  lieuten- 
ant Scroggs,  of  the  division  staff,  who  were,  during  a  portion  of  the 
engagement,  cut  off  from  their  commander,  and  served  me  to  ex- 
cellent purpose  as  volunteer  aids,  until  communication  was  opened 
to  Gen.  Morgan's  quarters. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be  Captain, 
To  Very  Respectfully, 

Theo.  Wiseman,  Your  Obedient  Servant 

Capt.  and  A.  A.  G.  JAS.  W.  LANGLEY, 

Second  Division.  Lieut.  Col.  Comdg.  Brigade. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 

973.74IL6I125  C002 

THE  125TH  REGIMENT,  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEER  I 


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